Following recent calls from academics for a rise in car parking charges to reduce congestion and studies showing car pollution levels rising in some parts of Brighton, we can be pretty certain that more "traffic improvement" schemes are on their way.

However, before Brighton and Hove City Council steps up its campaign against cars, it should take note of what is happening elsewhere.

In Cambridge, for example, they have introduced harsh traffic-reduction measures, including punitive car parking charges. Result? On a Saturday morning there are indeed fewer cars about and even empty car parking spaces.

The trouble is, there's not much left in the city - the large shops have gone or are in the process of leaving to go to other nearby towns as the number of shoppers coming into Cambridge has reduced. There has also been a drop in commercial activity in Bristol following the introduction of traffic control measures.

There is some evidence of this happening already to Brighton.

Christmas trading results show a ten per cent fall in retail sales in Brighton, compared to a fall of only 0.01 per cent in London and a quick walk around the Lanes show a surprising number of shops for sale.

Chichester, as The Argus reports, is having a sales boom and, unlike Brighton, is now in the top 100 most affluent places in Britain.

The results of the consultation on the Queens Park/James Street parking scheme shows business is against it. You also don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out that, if you close off roads to cars, it will concentrate the traffic in particular places so giving rise to higher pollution levels at those areas as is happening in Brighton.

However, we can be confident that, following Ken Bodfish's fact-finding trip to China, the council will adopt a more imaginative approach to traffic congestion so that the delicate economy of Brighton and Hove is not ruined by draconian policies that will deter visitors coming here to spend their money.

Andrew Abaza

-Eaton Place, Brighton