The attack by the Green Party on our recently launched City Direct project is utterly misinformed (Letters, March 14).

City Direct uses new technology to make it easier for residents to report problems such as abandoned vehicles or broken street lights. It can be used from home or from free computers in our libraries and elsewhere.

It is also about our staff having the technology and training to react more quickly to residents' requests. In short, it is about getting things fixed more efficiently and effectively.

There is also a new collection of information leaflets explaining how, for instance, residents can get a bus pass and disabled people can get free taxi vouchers, how to recycle more or how to get planning permission. Such information is itself a public service.

Most of the money from this has come from our successful bid to the Government. I urge all residents to judge for themselves, drop into their local library and look at the City Direct desk or go to one of our three City Direct "hubs", at Hove Town Hall, Portslade Neighbourhood office (Victoria Road) and Bartholomew Square, Brighton, by going to www. brighton-hove.gov.uk and clicking the "City Direct" button.

I am not really sure why the Green Party thinks knocking such improvements will help it get elected. There has to be more to politics than simply always whingeing or saying no.

-Ken Bodfish, leader, Brighton and Hove City Council