I challenge, on the following grounds, the local perception that Brighton and Hove is a cosmopolitan city in which to live.

Is Brighton and Hove a centre of economic and political importance? I would venture to say no. Are corporate head offices - banks, developers and so on - located there? Again, I would say no.

Are there high-speed rail links to international destinations? No, there aren't. There aren't even decent connections to Ashford or Dover.

And while I'm at it, why can't that dreadful - and really, really ugly - Brighton Pier be torn down and replaced with a Hoverspeed service to France?

Is there enough economic variety in Brighton? Nope, just a bunch of low-paying jobs in restaurants and hotels.

Is there enough cultural diversity in Brighton? Good grief, no. Boozing, football and clubbing seem to be the main cultural diversity.

Instead, let's import the International Jazz Festival and the Comedy Festival from Montreal, the Toronto Film Festival and the Granville Market from Vancouver.

All three would rock Brighton and Hove out of its hungover mind. And while I'm at it, where is the Brighton Ballet? And let's keep the West Pier.

Are immigrants valued? Not a chance. To the English, immigrants are just foreigners, not people making an important economic and cultural contribution to both Brighton and Hove and the rest of the country.

Are city councillors easily accessible, involved in ward activities and in regular communication with their ward constituents? Who is my councillor anyway?

Are shops open late? Irritatingly not. With few exceptions, most stores shut at 5 or 5.30pm, just when people are getting out of work. This is very odd. Thursday night is the only exception for Churchill Square.

I ask these questions out of sheer frustration. There's not much to do on a regular basis in Brighton and Hove throughout the entire year, except for the Brighton Festival.

Residents deserve much more and much better.

-Andrea Bain, Lower Rock Gardens, Brighton