As a customer of Chris Naish, I am at a loss to understand the "thinking" of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Chris is trying to run a small business, working long hours and paying business rates for the privilege. He must feel he is being persecuted for contributing his

services to the city. Anyone who knows Brunswick Street East will know the chaos that not being able to put work in progress on the street causes.

The spaces Chris is forced to use are not causing an obstruction, nor are they in use by residents, because they have gone to work. There is barely room for two cars in his workshop.

Last summer, Chris had my car for two weeks while the engine was sent away for reconditioning. Without putting my car in a restricted parking space at times during the working day (where it got a ticket), he would not have been able to work on other vehicles.

Chris is an excellent and honest motor engineer with a large number of customers who trust him and often call on him to help at short notice. The council surely must be able to take a common-sense approach with small firms such as this or it will drive hard-working people out of business.

-Colin Hiscox, Hangleton Road, Hove