I, too, have been wondering why Brighton and Hove councillors have suddenly started showing an unhealthy interest in Stanmer Park and their plans to restrict and charge the general public for use of the park, for that is what it amounts to.

Concreting over an area that is most pleasing to the eye as you enter the park is going to cause far more damage both physically and aesthetically than the people who park their cars on the grass during the few fine weekends and holiday times.

I had my suspicions right from the start that it was either something to do with extra parking for the Albion, should they get their stadium, or the new leaseholders of Stanmer House.

After all, it can't have escaped their notice that, if the status quo with regards to parking in the park remains, they and their luxury home occupiers and visitors to the conferences and art gallery and reception facilities for weddings as planned will not have exclusive rights to park their cars on their own doorsteps.

They will have to share it with the hoi polloi. And before any councillor starts jumping up and down and telling me it is for the sake of the environment, answer me this.

What is the difference between the general public in their cars using our parks and the three-day horse trials, music festivals, dog shows and kite festivals all held in Stanmer Park, circuses, pink pride and other music events in Preston Park, funfairs on the Level, Ladyboys in Victoria Gardens with all the lorries, cars and other trappings that come with these events and the damage they cause to the grass and surrounding areas, not to mention the cost of clearing up after them?

I suggest the difference is all the latter uses are commercial where private use is not. Do not forget, however, we pay our community charges for maintaining these places and have done so for a very long time.

Come on, Argus, how about showing a bit more interest and running one of your famous campaigns on this? Or will this park end up being lost to the public the same way the Goldstone ground was?

Do something now before it is too late.

-Mrs J Streeter, Hove