One of the Green candidates for the local elections tried to defend the record of their council administration despite the failure to achieve much (Letters, May 14).

She pointed to the Valley Gardens proposals, yet the plans for this area are seriously flawed and need amending.

The current proposals for the Valley Gardens could cause years of disruption, divert traffic into residential streets, result in more concreting, plant too many trees in limited spaces, remove an important historical fountain and fail to provide a buffer zone for recreational use within our urban area.

Some aims for this scheme may be well meaning but the affects of the proposed designs, which include reducing the road space for all vehicles (including buses), could result in more congestion and environmental damage on this important route into the city.

That scheme – like others in recent years – needs amending because it is impractical and potentially damaging to businesses, and residents, in addition to our environment.

Let’s have more consultation online and elsewhere so that more people have the opportunity to have a say about this important scheme.

Rob Heale
Chatham Place, Brighton