The cold spell has shown Brighton and Hove City Council in its true colours.

Here is a local authority which finds every opportunity to extract money from its citizens, fleeces its citizens for parking charges, continues to extend parking meters and permit zones and subcontracts to a malicious army of parking wardens that are the bane of people’s lives.

Yet, when the worst road conditions in living memory arrive, it shirks its responsibilities and is unable to de-ice more than a few major roads or put the necessary grit bins in place.

I have seen members of the public erecting makeshift ‘road closed’ barriers to protect other motorists from hazardous ice. I have seen people tending to old age pensioners who’ve cracked their heads on icy pavements, as well as cars sliding out of control down side roads, inaccessible businesses closed, and conditions that made even going out of the house life-threatening.

The public’s support and concern for one another at this time has been quite life affirming. By contrast, our money-grabbing council has been found seriously wanting.

Ian Lawton
Wilbury Road, Hove