The "talks" between Brighton and Hove City Council and traders' representatives have got nowhere.

The council hasn't been listening for months - why should anyone believe it would start now? What is a surprise is the slight change in attitude from Voice of The Argus ("Yellow whines", November 2), moving from the impartial stand the paper has previously kept.

The limit increase from two to four hours is useless to me and many other craftsmen and building tradesmen who normally work eight-hour days. Of course we are moaning.

How many businesses could possibly accept the restrictive practice of only allowing half a day's trading?

How many office workers would accept having to carry their desks, computers and other tools of the trade from the next street and then back again after only four hours, every day, while being charged for this privilege?

Any fool can see how stupid that would be, yet that is what the council forces us to do.

The constant lumping together of car owners and traders must stop. There is a separate case for both.

Traders want exactly what the council wants - to be at a working address for the minimum time possible. What the council consistently ignores is that its actions prolong the agony.

-P McMullen, Pyromania Fireplaces, Westbourne Place, Hove