With regards to Victoria Richardson's comments regarding the ongoing problem of parking within the Wish Park area (Letters, May 14), as one of the Wish councillors I totally agree with her views and I reiterate that in my view Brighton and Hove City Council's initial consultation with residents was flawed.

My fellow Wish councillor Ted Kemble and I have requested that the decision-making be investigated by the council's scrutiny committee. However, this has been held in abeyance until the Ombudsman has reported on the matter. It was referred to him some six months ago and we are both at a loss to understand the delay in reaching a decision.

Both Coun Kemble and I will continue to press for a solution although, while undertaking the mayoralty, specific ward matters will, as is the custom, be dealt with by Coun Kemble.

Proof that the council does not look holistically at an area when implementing its controlled parking zones can be found in the Wish Park area. In order to stop abandoned vehicles from being dumped on the park side of Wish Road and to stop long-term parking of commercial vehicles, lorries, motor homes, etc, the council included the park side of the road within area W of the residents parking zone which means that on that side of the road, beside the park, it is residents only parking between 10am and 11am and 7pm and 8pm.

What this has done is to stop commuters parking there and confused other visitors, including those using the park for sporting activities.

This has pushed commuters and visitors to the park and seafront over to the Saxon Road side of the park, where guess what, they also cannot park, as this side has been taken over by long-term parking, abandoned vehicles, commercial vehicles, motor homes, etc.

So, at weekends particularly, the streets surrounding the park become a bit of a scrum. The council needs to sit up and take notice of these parking issues.

Space should be found, perhaps in the harbour area, for a commercial vehicle car park and storage for motor homes.

A tough call I know, but running a city is tough and issues and problems have to be dealt with, rather than turning a blind eye or redirecting them on to others' doorsteps.

  • S Heasman, Marine Avenue, Hove