AS SOMEONE who has lived in our city my entire life I strongly disagree with Kenny Lloyd (Problems not new, The Argus, May 20) who says that Brighton and Hove's problems are nothing new.

We used to be a clean and well-kept city but this has changed dramatically with the decline having accelerated in the last couple of years.

Brighton and Hove used to have beautiful and well-kept parks with flower displays in the summer that were enjoyed by the residents.

People had respect and took pride in these public displays and didn't need to be told not to damage them.

Residents and shops also took pride in their own displays and this used to be encouraged by the council - as recently as five years ago Brighton and Hove had a City in Bloom competition that encouraged civic pride but the Labour Green council shut it down.

This isn't ancient history, it is five years ago.

Today, where there used to be flower displays just a few years ago, there are now empty planters and flowerbeds - such as along Viaduct Road and at Patcham roundabout.

Other aspects of the city have declined. Black Rock used to be a popular spot with a swimming pool - it is now in a disgraceful condition with homeless camped nearby.

As a teenager I used to live near the Cat's Creep in Roundhill and there was no graffiti - but have a look at it now.

All of this is the fault of our council which has completely taken its eye off the ball on the basic task of maintaining a good state of the city.

We must be the only tourist council in the country that no longer has a summer City in Bloom initiative.

The Greens don't care - they are focused on their social ideology over anything else.

The council needs to buck its ideas up and start doing its job.

Bringing back City in Bloom would be a good start.

Councillor Dawn Barnett

Hangleton and Knoll Ward