COUNCILLOR Barnett is clearly referring to myself when she talks of a councillor attending a protest last August about the Old Shoreham Road cycle lanes (Council to blame for some of these public protests, Argus Letters, March 22).

She is mistaken, however, when she says that I "addressed the crowd". She says that "you couldn't make it up" but I'm afraid that's exactly what she's done.

I went to the protest in my lunch break to listen to the views of the people gathered there.

Cllr Barnett then goes on to say that I voted to "keep the cycle lanes" a week earlier. Again, this is stretching the truth I'm afraid. I voted against a Conservative suggestion at a full council meeting that gave a ridiculously short timeframe for a report to be produced that would have possibly been counter productive and not a true picture of the cycle lane situation. This is the only vote I've personally been involved with in regard to the cycle lanes.

Lastly, my own views on these Old Shoreham Road cycle lanes are well known but I see part of the role of a local councillor as encouraging residents to give their views and comments on local issues.

That's why Labour strengthened the consultation on these cycle lanes - to try and ensure that as many residents as possible were given a chance to have their say.

Councillor Peter Atkinson

North Portslade