Many congratulations to Brighton and Hove City Council.

When most seaside resorts aim to get good publicity to encourage tourism for the coming year, this council must congratulate itself on getting coverage on BBC News 24, reporting it issues more parking tickets than most other cities in the country.

What is more, the report was transmitted on Bank Holiday Monday. This council obviously believes that, in 2005, the tourist finds collecting parking tickets more memorable than the traditional piece of Brighton Rock or picture postcard.

Will they wish to return to a city with few parking places, over-zealous parking attendants and a definite feeling of bad value for money if they are lucky enough to find a place to park?

The front page story (The Argus, April 29) showed locals' annoyance with these blanket parking policies.

Surely visitors will just vote with their feet and not come to Brighton.

Wake up, Brighton, and tell this council it is driving visitors away.

The economy will suffer as other seaside towns and inland shopping centres learn to balance with more success the need for parking with effective alternatives.

Finally, the council has to remember visitors do not possess local knowledge. They do not know the area or bus routes.

Trying to find parking either to shop or enjoy the local attractions will end up frustrating them and ruining their day.

They will never return unless this council wakes up to the percentage of income visitors bring to the city, contributing to its prosperity, and make Brighton a city to visit, not to steer clear of.

-Dennis C Merrett, Newick