While most forward-thinking councils have created viable communities in their city centres, Brighton and Hove City Council seems to have adopted a "live in the suburbs, drive to town" approach which is neither sustainable nor civilised.

The recent schools debate highlighted recently in your news and letter pages is only one of a series of issues which demean the communities in central Brighton.

The council is soon to decide on a parking scheme which allows those living outside the central zone to park within this zone.

This will cause more unnecessary traffic movement and further congestion as people from other zones park centrally for shopping and commuting.

This a poorly-thought-through measure for the convenience of Brighton and Hove City Council and should be resisted.

We pay high community charges with very professional council wages - we should expect a professional service.

If you have not already done so, you should register your protest with the council.

If Brighton is to maintain its place as an exciting and vibrant community, then the council needs to adopt forward-thinking policies which support and encourage city living, rather than adopt the old "flight to the suburbs" policies of the Eighties and Nineites.

-Stephen Anderson, Brighton