At last, the national Conservative and Labour parties appear to recognise that environmental problems need to be taken seriously, as they compete to be "the greenest of all".

Though seemingly limited to air travel and lightbulbs, this road to Damascus-style conversion doesn't appear to have trickled down to their local activists, who offer more of the same.

The Tories promise more car parks and to make it easier to drive cars in the city centre.

With their Labour allies, they have forced through an unpopular and environmentally damaging parking zone merger on city centre residents.

They also conspire together to impose a massive waste transfer station on the community in Hollingdean and an incinerator at Newhaven, despite widespread opposition from residents across the county.

All of these will serve to increase the problems of traffic congestion and air pollution as well as the CO2 emissions they claim to be so concerned about.

Thankfully, people in Brighton and Hove have a real green option in the forthcoming council elections. They can vote for their Green Party councillors and candidates and help to make this city an example of environmentally sustainable living that meets the green aspirations of the city's people.

  • Ian Davey, Prospective Green Party candidate, St Peters and North Laine ward Titian Road, Hove