IT IS a pity that The Argus (August 3) tries to peddle the myth that Brighton and Hove City Council is anti- development.

To the contrary, the council appears to have encouraged all sorts of development projects.

To its shame, though, a significant number of these have been so inappropriate they have attracted concerted opposition from beyond the usual constituency of concerned neighbours.

It has fallen to councillors to reflect the views of voters and reject the more ridiculous schemes – or even to financiers to pull the plug as the more sober property market of late has jolted them into a belated awareness of new realities.

The King Alfred proposal, in particular, is a superb case study in the dangers of the sort of consultations so many councils engage in these days – and of the potentially expensive and disastrous results of ignoring the public.

Perhaps John Barradell, the new council chief executive, can encourage a more responsible approach.

Look at what Crawley achieved with the K2 leisure centre and Mid Sussex with the Triangle in Burgess Hill. Regeneration need not in-volve overdevelopment or trashy designs.

Perhaps Mr Barradell can also listen to the growing anger about the rash of communal bins and the spread of unnecessary parking restrictions which tax those with the lowest incomes in our community the hardest.

We also still have dangerous and polluting built-out bus stops and the number of restricted parking places is rising, as is the price of parking.

A Smith Portland Road, Hove