Simon Fanshawe's theme is familiar (Letters, March 28).

The huge success of the local economy is driving house prices ever upwards, forcing out the people with the requisite skills and, ultimately, leading to inevitable decline.

Local politicians are, as ever, on the case and organising further consultation to see how they can intervene in the market.

Are these claims true? Is there evidence that areas in the country have gone into decline as a result of an over-inflated house market? I don't think so.

Brighton and Hove has one of the lowest per household average incomes in the South East of England.

Major companies do not locate to the area because of the lack of high-quality housing and an adequate skills base.

House prices are still below the average for the South East of England, although fast catching up.

I am not trying to underplay the significance of housing affordability. But attempts to interfere with the market, especially when based on false premises, have seldom been successful.

If, perhaps, Brighton and Hove City Council concentrated on its core duties of delivering a high-quality living environment with decent schooling, it might attract the kind of employers and skilled employees that would command decent salaries and end the city's dependence on low-paid service-sector jobs.

-Steve, St Peter's Place, Brighton