I was somewhat concerned to hear the leader of the Conservatives in Brighton and Hove, Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn, suggest Braypool would have been a far more suitable site for park-and-ride (The Argus, December 10).

Has he not read the reports commissioned by the council on Braypool? In this document, the consultants state there is no proven need that justifies building park-and-ride in an area of outstanding natural beauty/National Park and that the planning case for building at Braypool is weak.

What is perhaps more astonishing is that so many politicians appear to be backing park-and-ride without there being any sound evidence that it will be of benefit to the city.

Despite some wild claims from the local business community about the environmental benefits of park-and-ride, the council's consultants make it clear that, despite significant research and consultation, there is no evidence to support the assumptions that park-and-ride would reduce the growth in traffic in the city and would lead to environmental improvements.

We now need politicians to realise that with Patcham Court Farm ruled out and with planning permission at Braypool extremely unlikely, a new approach is required.

This should build on our current strengths and tackle our areas of weakness. It may not be easy or straight-forward but then solutions to transport never are.

We are ready to play our part in a new approach. The question is, are our leaders?

-Chris Todd, Brighton and Hove and Mid-Sussex Friends of the Earth, Brighton