The Argus has consistently reported the travails of the traders at the Open Market and my own efforts, as a candidate at the last election, to represent their need for better treatment from Brighton and Hove City Council.

I was therefore grateful to see Voice of the Argus (March 21) highlighting the opportunity being missed to raise the profile of this much under-used and undervalued city asset.

Not being elected to Parliament was a disappointment I soon got over but when I see the hard-working traders being treated with such contempt by their landlords (the council), ignored by their MP (David Lepper) and desperately in need of proper representation, I remember why I stood for election in the first place.

The council has a great deal to answer for and it needs no more studies to be commissioned to work out what needs doing.

The long called-for canopy needs to be put in place as it should have been years ago. Proper signposting needs to be erected, a marketing initiative needs to be launched and councillors should start looking at the renovation of London Road as a proper alternative to the monolithic Churchill Square, instead of allowing it to deteriorate further.

-David Gold, Vice-President, Brighton Pavilion Conservative Association