Local residents in the Triangle and London Road area last night heard the transport and environment policies of the prospective parliamentary candidates in Brighton Pavilion. Tory candidate Charlotte Vere said a Conservative government would increase localism.

“We have had enough of planning regulations handed down from on high,” she said. “Our cities are vibrant places and we seem to be stuck in a situation where we are controlled by central government. It’s about change not bureaucracy.”

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party candidate, said she was shocked by recent statistics showing that 1,216 people in Sussex will die prematurely every year because of air pollution.

“Car emissions of Lewes Road are more life threatening than smoking and obesity,” she said. “We need to shift budgets from cars to public transport to make it easier for people to do the right thing. We would renationalize ownership of railways and buses.”

UKIP candidate Nigel Carter said his party would take 5 per cent from the 17.5 per cent VAT raised in Britain and give it to local councils to finance local government programmes. He also wanted to promote the use of electric cars in the city.

The debate at the Salvation Army Hall on Park Crescent was chaired by Chris Todd from Friends of the Earth and included a presentation from Stephen Young, from the lobby group Living Streets, who compared the pedestrian experience in the city to an Olympic challenge involving, among other things, hurdles and high jumps. Which politician will be first across the winning line remains to be seen on May 6.