Tony Baron should consider whether his rant against Wayne Jackman is entirely justified (Letters, November 11).

The issue for the residents of the Area 0, Goldsmid ward, parking scheme which is being discussed is far more complex than his comments suggest.

We are, firstly, asking for Brighton and Hove City Council to follow the democratic process when considering changes to a parking scheme.

Currently they are not, as the documentation they sent out with the survey form did not highlight changes, was poorly printed so most people could not distinguish between the two shades of orange that denote the difference between the proposed long-term parking and what will remain of the medium-term parking if it goes through and, more importantly, the survey questions are so poorly worded hardly anyone can make sense of them.

More than 200 people have already told us they didn't understand the effects of what will happen, even though they had tried to read the documentation. If you don't provide accurate and clear information for people to base their decisions on, it is hardly surprising the results look like people don't mind the changes.

Secondly, it is the combined effects of extending the size of what is already the city's largest parking scheme combined with the extension of 11-hour pay-and-display bays that local residents are worried about.

It is the influx of an extra 500-1,000 cars from neighbouring streets, previously part of a different parking scheme, which will be allocated permits to use the unused residents bays as well as the the loss of as many as 1,000 parking spaces at Brighton Station and the subsequent increase in those who use cars to commute to work in Brighton these changes will cause will leave Goldsmid residents high and dry.

When was the last time Mr Baron tried getting two small children and a weekly shop from his car to his house via a street in which there are no parking spaces at any time of the day or night, without putting the safety of those children at stake?

When was the last time Mr Baron had to drive around his local area for more than an hour, trying to find somewhere to park his car within a reasonable walking distance of his house?

When was the last time Mr Baron had to visit an elderly relative in a care home where he couldn't park within a mile-and-a-half walk?

When was the last time Mr Baron went to work by car because he is classified as an "essential car user" by the Government and then tried to park without success when he got back from work?

My family has had direct experience of three of these four examples living in Goldsmid and we do not want a return to that unless Mr Baron volunteers to do exactly the same every working day for as long as the scheme stays in place.

Thirdly, we are pointing out that a city council should not introduce proposals that are in direct conflict with its own policies on sustainable transport, which these proposal are.

Fourthly, someone who lives in Worthing should be catching the train to work in Brighton or Hove or at the very least car-sharing with four other people, as I do, and saving us all the hassle of having this debate, as well reducing the horrendous pollution Brighton residents have to put up with as a result of people like Mr Baron and which has caused both of my small children to suffer from serious respiratory complaints.

Rest assured that if these proposals go ahead residents will be deliberately leaving their cars in the long-term bays to make sure commuters cannot park.

Owen Perkins & Tracey Williams, Goldsmid Community Group

-Addison Road, Hove