An article published on the Brighton and Hove City NHS website on July 27, 2004, confirmed my decision that Brighton was the right place to bring up my children.

"It's official -" the article reads. "Brighton and Hove can be a healthy city. The World Health Organization has confirmed Brighton and Hove is now one of the best cities in the world when it comes to helping its population lead healthy lives. Only five European cities have achieved this designation.

"The news comes as the city's most senior public health expert, director of public health Dr Tom Scanlon, launched a new report showing fresh evidence that in Brighton and Hove a person's health is greatly influenced by how poor they are.

"Jean Spray, who is chair of the city's Primary Care Trust and also chair of the City Health Partnership, said: 'The evidence published today shows the health divide between the rich and the poor is a real problem in Brighton and Hove. We have a programme of action to change this...For the World Health Organization to give us the backing they have is a great boost to our work.'

"Leader of the council Ken Bodfish said: 'The council has a unique role to play in delivering a healthier environment for all of us to live in and we are committed to doing that...We need to make sure our citizens have an environment that is clean and safe and is of a high quality in addition to good affordable housing and the opportunity to participate in a city full of life."

In recent weeks, however, I have had to re-evaluate my love affair with Brighton. The glitzy, shiny seafront appearance and the new London- focused developments are attractive but a significant development is proposed for a more deprived area.

It would appear it does matter where you live with regards to your health and life quality options.

However, the council underestimates the people who live in deprived areas. They do have an opinion and will speak out.

My son, nine, doing well in all subjects and sports at school, already faces a daily wake-up call from more than 20 HGV vehicles from 6.40am and, when he steps out the door, a thick curtain of diesel fumes from the traffic at the Cityclean depot.

The proposed waste transfer station will bring even more fumes.

Learning outdoors is being encouraged but a recent study has shown even a slight increase in ambient noise levels can greatly affect children's concentration. In the playground of the Downs Infants School, my daughter will be subject to a constant stream of lorries ten metres away. The noise effect has been classified as "substantial".

The seafront and main parks are kept beautiful but we are paying the full price, as this one site will take of all 200,000 tonnes of Brighton and Hove's household waste.

How can the council get away with destroying our neighbourhood?

-Sandra Staufer, Brighton