I am very worried about Regency ward Lib Dems' "Clean up Norfolk Square" campaign. The campaign is apparently not about litter but banning street drinking in the square.

Despite some support for the campaign, many local residents, like myself, believe street drinkers in Norfolk Square are not a major nuisance. There are myths and rumours around that the Norfolk Square street drinkers "threaten violence" and that the square is "full of used needles". Neither claim is true.

According to crime figures, street drinkers are regular victims of violent crime rather than perpetrators.

There have been problems with needles in the toilet on the northwest corner of the square but this cannot be linked with street drinking and, in any case, a sharps box has now been installed.

Street drinking bans are both discriminatory and futile. The no-go zones in east and central Brighton have driven drinkers to The Level and Norfolk Square. A ban in Norfolk Square would simply send these people to Brunswick Square.

The ban is discriminatory because it denies the human rights of a group of people because of the way they look. It is not a blanket ban on street drinking, just one imposed on people who look dirty and scruffy.

The Lib Dems are clearly looking to use this issue as a vote winner for the May elections. I think it is dangerous to appeal to some people's ignorance and petty prejudices just to win votes.

Andy Player

-Western Street, Brighton