In the article on revamping London Road in Brighton (The Argus, April 25), readers may have believed that "resolving the area's traffic problems" meant eliminating the area's congestion problems. In reality, the opposite is true.

While removing most traffic from the London Road shopping area is a desirable aim, Brighton and Hove City Council's suggested traffic management scheme will have a massive negative effect on the city.

Under these proposals, northbound capacity through Preston Circus would be approximately halved, causing colossal problems. The southbound direction is only slightly better with all traffic from the A23, Ditchling Road and Lewes Road being pushed through the already congested junction between Lewes Road and Elm Grove.

Buses would be caught in long traffic jams, with some buses prevented from serving the London Road shopping area. The developer's current thinking is equally perverse.

It effectively suggests moving the Preston Circus junction up to the corner of Preston Road and Stanford Avenue, but with only half the number of traffic lanes. This would also result in appalling congestion problems.

The apparent policy of certain council officers and consultants to bring the city to a standstill should be resisted. Congestion causes buses severe unreliability problems and undermines the main alternative to the car. While improving walking and cycling facilities can be positive, using extreme measures to force their use can only undermine the city.

  • Peter Elvidge, Wish Road, Hove