Now that the regeneration of St James's Street is nearly complete one can see the benefits it has brought.

The local shops for the local community it was meant to enhance are closing down one by one and being replaced by cafe-bars and licensed restaurants.

Gone is a bakery, a fruit and vegetable shop and a bookshop. A butcher's shop is available for rent, a hairdresser's is for sale and the bike shop has moved, just to mention a few.

The reduction of passing traffic has not only had the effect of reducing passing trade but has also made it a less safe place to be after dark.

As the owner of a guest house in Charlotte Street, I used to recommend restaurants in the area. No more. I now recommend either a walk via the seafront or a taxi into the town centre.

I also advise guests to avoid St James's Street, Upper St James's Street and St George's Road as I do not want to expose them to abusive beggars, drug dealing, drunks and the other associated risks of walking through this area.

This ill-conceived scheme, partially EU-funded, was put into place without the benefit of a full economic impact study. Our Local Plan, which outlines what Brighton and Hove Council intends to do during the next ten years, is full of ideas, none of which benefit from economic impact studies.

How long will we allow this council to continue to degenerate our town in this way?

-R. Wallace, Charlotte Street, Brighton