Brighton and Hove's parking wardens lack knowledge of the parking regulations.

I purchased two business permits for Zone N in July to enable our company to continue operating satisfactorily.

On the second day of the parking restrictions, I spoke to four wardens who were operating outside my offices.

I pointed to my car parked outside in a pay-and-display zone and asked if I was legally parked with my permit.

None of them knew the answer but spoke to a superior on their radio to check.

The information received was that since we were loading and unloading at various times of the day, we were fully entitled to park in this area.

We have parked every day within this area and have received no objections from any wardens.

The other day, I was informed by a member of my staff that a warden was taking particular interest in my vehicle.

I approached him and asked if there was a problem. The warden informed me he would be issuing me with a ticket for parking illegally.

I pointed out the business permit displayed on the windscreen and explained I had also checked this out with his superiors some months previously.

The warden did not want to discuss this but did mention he wasn't too sure himself of the legalities of my parking.

To stop myself receiving a parking ticket, I purchased a pay-and-display ticket while we sorted the matter out.

I asked the warden for his name, which he refused to give me. He then contacted someone on his radio to confirm the rules on my parking but, unfortunately, this person did not know and had to check with someone else.

The answer we finally received was no, I was not parked legally. Would someone please make up their mind?

I was then approached by two other business owners nearby, who told me they had been informed we could park legally outside our premises. At this point, the warden disappeared.

I checked the vehicles parked in the same vicinity after this incident and noted there were three other business permits, two resident permits and five vehicles with no permits or pay-and-display stickers parked.

What particular reason did this warden have for singling out my vehicle?

I would like to know why a business permit is more expensive than a residents' permit if we both may only park in the same marked area.

As a business, we already pay higher rates than residential properties in the area.

-S E Reid, Ladies That Do!, Blatchington Road, Hove