Yes, it's great to have pedestrianised spaces, however, personally I don't find New Road in Brighton such a glowing, unqualified success as J Shepherd (Letters, March 24).

The silver grey minimalist style of the street furniture blends poorly with the surrounding Victorian buildings. That design palette may be trendy, for the moment, and relate to the Jubilee Library and the surrounding minimalist neo-modernist buildings there. But it's completely wrong for classical New Road. Scandinavian minimalism may work fine in certain surroundings but it shouldn't be applied everywhere.

As a pedestrian space New Road is confusing. Is it a piazza meant for people? Or is it for cars? The space is not well defined. Visually, I expect a car or other vehicle to come speeding along at any moment. I instinctively keep to the sides and I notice many other people do the same.

The lighting also leaves something to be desired as the area around the "twinkling bench" is quite dark at night, whereas previously there was a row of classical lamp-posts behind the bench's current position, offering a good deal more light than at present.

Personally I find the design approach in Prince's Place, one street to the east, better suited to its surroundings. The space is better defined, the lighting is better and the classic design far better suits the surrounding historic and traditional buildings.

Hopefully many more pedestrian schemes are on the way. I join with Mr Shepherd in strongly urging that local talent be used for all future schemes. Excellent Brighton and Hove designers - there is no shortage of them - know a lot more about our city, its history, context and needs.

  • C Wunderman, Gwydyr Mansions, Holland Road