HOW I agree with Sean Fowler (Argus, July 11).

Under the Labour/Green councils, recycling rates have plummeted, the park and ride facility has been discontinued (except when Labour want to have their conference), weeds grow in the pavements, there are depressingly regular industrial disputes with the dustmen (dust-persons?) and hopelessly congested streets due to road narrowing and empty cycle lanes.

Instead of sorting these issues out the council squanders taxpayers' money on ever more narrowing of roads, painting of a rainbow of colours on the road surface, installing bumps all over the place, issuing personal pronoun badges to staff, police etc, agonising over transgender rights and what constitutes "a woman".

I look back fondly to the Brighton of my youth, when visitors could drive easily and happily past the beautiful Steine Gardens, enjoy the lovely fountains gurgling reassuringly, park conveniently on Madeira Drive, along with the many visiting coach parties, take a stroll along the top of the Madeira Arches and admire the world class green wall, take a stroll on either of the two piers.

Today, the once beautiful gardens are a wasteland which hosts an occasional hippy camp, the fountains are dry and derelict, Madeira Drive is a dead, useless bicycle lane where no one may park, the Madeira arches are derelict and closed to pedestrians, the green wall has been torn down and one of the piers is a derelict wreck.

Vic Chapman

Shoreham