I have been a resident of Hove for almost 30 years and, like many others of mature years, have witnessed disastrous changes to our pleasant town.

I am incandescent with anger over many of the actions of Brighton and Hove City Council, which I feel is self-serving and has no interest in the quality of life of local citizens.

Indeed, by its actions, it is turning our town into a filthy dump and a money-making scheme to fill its coffers at any expense.

We are privy to dustbins and piles of rubbish festooning our streets on a daily basis, as bins are no longer kept on people's premises.

Urban foxes now run riot, scavenging these easy spoils, and, every day, litter can be seen strewn all over our roads. Quiet and neat residential streets have now become giant garbage dumps because refuse collectors no longer collect from properties.

Parking and parking charges have become an outrageous problem.

There is now little metered parking in the centre of Brighton.

The council has abolished many bays and, at the same time, has increased the charges on meters and in the NCP car parks to an obscene level 50p for 15 minutes. What a huge price we have to pay if we are to go shopping.

We now also have outrageously priced metered parking in some residential areas before 8pm.

No one can visit friends or family in some roads in Hove without incurring charges. Even a quiet Sunday walk on the promenade is fraught with finding somewhere to park, then having to dole out cash.

Heaven help us if we should want to stay by the sea for longer than the two hours allowed.

As for day-trippers wanting to come to Brighton, perhaps a councillor could tell me how they are supposed to cope.

Traffic calming may help the council's strategy but the extra fossil fuel it creates, plus the high level of indignant feeling, is a scandal.

Road narrowing, street humps and mad road layouts are not improving the quality of life. They are doing the exact opposite.

We are being punished for living here and the council is upsetting many moderate people.

It is also creating a great deal of financial hardship for many already hard-pressed people.

Finally, the Gehry buildings which are soon to be built on the King Alfred site, must be the most ridiculous scheme the council has ever sanctioned.

Surely it has learnt its lesson from the dreadful Brighton Centre and Odeon cinema complex?

Now the foolish councillors want to erect the most incongruous monstrosity in Hove, which is completely out keeping with the area and which will blight people's homes, as well as cause untold disruption.

where the council can do no wrong. Shame on it.

-SD Weinberg, Hove