Your page one headlines in Saturday’s Argus and the article: Roadworks hell to last for three more months made me feel it’s time I wrote something.

I feel deeply about the effect of these works, how long they take and the effect on small businesses.

Small creative businesses are our route to survival in the future.

Soon after the owner of Verdict Jazz Club and Cafe marched in the contractor started work. To reach the cafe and jazz club that he had just taken on became an obstacle race suffering noise etc.

I thought when a contract was to be carried out, it should be done as quickly as possible, so people are affected to the minimum.

Has anyone at the council considered that the effect on John’s finances and his business plan have become a nightmare?

People like John can go out of business.

How does the council department work out the length of the contract? Do MPs and councillors have an understanding of how the contract lengths are decided? They must see all the problems in the city.

It is wrong that businesses should suffer. The attractiveness of Brighton and Hove is the creativity energy of the small businesses so our city can remain and even grow as a tourist attraction.

I hope the council will address this problem and political representatives will get together to put an end to these issues.

Ray Amis Cornwall Gardens