Adam Trimingham (The Argus, January 15) mentioned the forthcoming central London £5 congestion charge being implemented by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.

Was The Argus right all along to campaign for Brighton and Hove to have a directly-elected mayor?

With hindsight, would the city be better off electing a maverick mayor unafraid of political unpopularity instead of the usual party-political puppet with interest in only short-term votes rather than our long-term interests?

The city-centre redevelopment next to Brighton station illustrates Brighton and Hove City Council has no strategic integrated public transport policy to avoid total city-centre gridlock and chaos, as do letters from Councillor Roy Pennington ("Talks failed", January 13) and Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company ("Uncommitted", January 14).

-John Stanaway, Lorna Road, Hove