JUST to be clear, Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth welcomes the redevelopment of Preston Barracks and the jobs it will create (Argus, December 3).

However, we’re concerned that spending around £15 million on increasing car parking spaces by 25 per cent will worsen congestion and pollution.

Lewes Road, as elsewhere in Brighton, suffers from too much traffic which is bad for our health and the local economy.

At the very least car parking on site should be capped at current levels.

However, even a modest reduction in spaces would benefit Lewes Road.

It’s not good enough for developers to say that there will be new bus stops and cycle facilities.

The amount they will spend on these will be a fraction of what they spend on cars.

Bus services will also face increased congestion and delays not least because of the new junction required to serve all the car parking.

This will penalise the majority of people travelling to the site by bus or by bike.

Once again those on public transport will be treated as second-class citizens.

Is it any wonder that congestion seems such an intractable problem, when every time we have an opportunity to improve things, we duck the challenge?

Poor health arising from our transport systems is one of the biggest public health scandals of recent years, yet where is the vision required to tackle this issue?

Surely if we are to reduce long term costs for public services such as an already overstretched NHS, we need to start investing in the solutions rather than just talking about them?

Until then, things are only going to get worse.

Chris Todd,

Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, planning and transport campaigner