Anthony Seldon, the departing headmaster of Brighton College, shares the concerns and frustrations of many in our city regarding the recent actions of Conservative members of Brighton and Hove City Council (The Argus, December 10).

By opposing park-and-ride, the Tories have not only lost our city one of the solutions to reducing traffic congestion. They have also lost us Government funding for a rapid transport system to get people moving around the city faster.

The Tories know we are facing total gridlock unless we reduce the number of vehicles driving into the city centre but are prepared to do nothing to prevent it. At the environment committee the day after Tory members voted against park-and-ride, some of the very same Tories complained that solutions had to be found to reduce congestion and keep cars out of the city centre.

It appeared to have escaped their attention that they had voted against one of the solutions to their concerns 24 hours earlier.

Dr Seldon is correct that Brighton and Hove is at a crossroads. Decisions on issues such as park-and-ride and major developments are watched with keen interest by businesses looking to relocate to, or expand within, our city.

Such employers look to see that the council supports enterprise and provides the necessary infrastructure to enable economic growth. A necessary part of that infrastructure is to ensure people can move around conveniently and quickly.

The Tories used to be the self-styled party of business. However, their vote against park-and-ride shows they are more interested in appeasing the parochial interests of a vocal minority instead of ensuring the future prosperity of the economy in our city.

-Councillor Craig Turton, deputy chairman, environment committee, Labour Member for East Brighton Ward