There has been gridlock in Brighton and Hove this week as thousands of people visited the city during the warm weather.

Those coming by road have been frustrated by roadworks on the seafront near West Street and on the A23 at Preston Drove.

But even without roadworks, progress is often painfully slow in Brighton and Hove because of the sheer volume of traffic.

The city council is investigating whether some form of rapid transit system would help solve the traffic problem.

One idea put forward by businessman David Courtney at Brighton Marina is for a monorail system along many major routes.

There are attractions to this idea. Monorails are good at carrying large numbers of people. Unlike trams they do not take up much road space.

Unlike trains, they can go up and down hills. They have slender support columns and they are flexible.

But there are some difficulties to be overcome and the first of these is financial. While the marina might help to fund the first leg from the harbour to the Palace Pier, where would the rest of the cash come from?

Would a monorail harm Brighton and Hove's bus service? What would it look like passing historic areas such as Brunswick Terrace? Could it feasibly be built in busy stretches of London Road?

These questions will have to be evaluated by the city council in its study. But the more gridlocked the city becomes, the more attractive a modern alternative seems.