Mick Venour (Letters, March 22) missed the real issue Councillor Brian Oxley was raising in his article about restoring civic pride in Brighton and Hove.

The points made by Mr Venour about increased council tax and low morale in the police force are ones we accept and are deeply worried about, which is why I urge anyone who shares these concerns to back the Conservative Party in next year's local elections.

Conservatives, as the opposition, must criticise all the things that are wrong in Brighton and Hove, such as huge council tax rises and ever-deteriorating services.

Constructive and mature opposition also includes praising positive developments and part of that involves pushing forward the positive aspects of Brighton and Hove in order to install civic pride in the city, which Coun Oxley was quite right to do.

City status is bound to increase awareness of Brighton and Hove and this can only be good for the tourist industry which is so important in this region.

We Conservatives realise there is work to be done and will not shirk from any of the criticism about needed improvements that Mr Venour was quite right to highlight.

-Jonathan Sheppard, Coombe Road, Brighton