It is not surprising that Southern Gas Networks’ seafront roadworks cause long delays; either it, or the council, digs up the main coast road almost every summer.

But how else is the council planning to achieve a 20% reduction in traffic?

If you think this could be achieved by the council still having a positive bus policy, please think again.

The Lewes Road scheme is basically to provide improved cycle lanes, with a buffer between cyclists and ordinary traffic. Only a very short section of the bus lane is useful, and other sections could even delay buses.

As for Edward Street, the council could be cleverly utilising the scheme to create nice new cycle lanes. While the bus lanes are unlikely to be much use, the main concern is whether the council will also simultaneously introduce congestion-inducing delays to the junctions, which would again earn bus lanes an unjustly bad name.

It appears almost every council scheme is poor for buses (and arguably for pedestrians too). Within the new zones, perhaps 70% of major bus routes could be restricted to 20mph, thereby slowing journeys, increasing fares and risking reduced evening services. And that’s before thinking how possible emission restrictions could affect services.

With congestion problems, it is likely few tourists will appreciate the council’s great transport experiment; neither do bus passengers appreciate higher fares and other negatives.

Are we really on the right track?

Peter Elvidge, Wish Road, Hove