A notice went up in Grantham Road a couple of months ago that said some changes to traffic regulations were being proposed and interested parties should lodge their objections by November 20.

So I went to the library, found the plans for the proposals and wrote to Brighton and Hove City Council.

I got a reply from the city solicitor's office on November 22 saying my letter had been forwarded to the appropriate department and I would receive a reply shortly.

The reply arrived on December 17, not as a letter but in the form of two workmen with a lorry who put up a set of new road signs.

I promptly got on the phone to Pete West, my local councillor, and the next day was contacted by someone from the council who told me the contractors had "jumped the gun", the signs would be taken down and I would receive a written response to my objections some time in January.

The signs were taken down the next day.

However, the new posts for the signs are still in place, the markers for the new double yellow lines have been painted on the road and the contractors have obviously been given their instructions to do the work.

I can guess what the reply to my objections will be since all this preparation has already been done before the council even considers what it will write in response to my letter (or probably even before it has bothered to read it).

Is anyone surprised local democracy is in disrepute?

-John English, Grantham Road, Brighton