I read with interest your report on Brighton and Hove City Council's vote against the park-and-ride scheme planned for Patcham.

I cannot for the life of me understand why the prospect of £19 million of Government funding was staked on the outcome of a planning application for 450 parking spaces which would have a negligible effect on the congestion in the city.

Given the controversial nature of the application which has been well reported in The Argus for many months, I find it difficult to believe the councillors could not attempt to overcome party divisions, put their heads together and come up with a solution for the benefit of residents, business owners and visitors.

Instead, councillors from every party are pointing fingers at their political opponents, evading the blame for the loss of vital funding for our city.

It is time for the council as a whole to stand up and be held accountable for this travesty. If council leader Ken Bodfish cannot do the job, he should stand down immediately.

None of the political parties come out of this disgraceful abdication of civic responsibility without shame.

-Paul Forrest, Portslade