With regards our much-regretted need to advise traders not to place tables in East Street:

1. When your article says: "For the past 15 years, three restaurants in East Street have paid a licence fee to Brighton and Hove City Council to use a plot of land outside their premises", I must make it clear this is not just "a plot of land".

It is an area of public highway and thus subject to national legisation (not local rule). Older residents will remember when it was part of the road.

2. The licences expired at the end of March, not eight weeks ago as stated in your article. The formal objection to all tables and chairs was only received in the last week of March.

3. No licences have been "withdrawn". All licences are issued on an annual basis and there is never a guarantee of their renewal. All traders know this because they sign up to these conditions each year.

4. This is no surprise to traders. Discussions with all parties have been taking place since February, with the council trying to negotiate with the objector right up to the last minute to avoid the blanket ban they required and the delays and uncertainty of having to go before a committee.

If traders put tables and chairs out without a licence, this can affect their insurance cover and (our biggest concern in this case) affect the outcome of their appeal against the objection when it goes before commitee.

This is why we advised them to keep things in at present. We appreciate their co-operation over this difficult period.

-Ian Denyer, Senior Highway Enforcement Officer, Brighton and Hove City Council Hove Town Hall, Hove