I am saddened though not altogether surprised at the reported opposition of Rottingdean Parish Council and others to the proposal for bus lanes on the A259 (The Argus August 25).

I do wonder if the gentlemen concerned (and it usually is men) have got on a bus in the last few years.

I also wonder if their objections are not really rooted somewhere deep in their psyche - an attitude of "I will drive my car come hell or high water". Of course, given climate change (related in no small part to car emissions), the high water may come sooner than they think.

To call the proposals "an environmental catastrophe" is a bit rich - that is what we have at the moment.

The noise, pollution and congestion caused by car traffic around Rottingdean is horrendous and the junction at the White Horse must be one of the most dangerous and pedestrian-unfriendly in the country.

Whenever I've asked one of these car addicts (and, yes, I do have one of the metal monsters myself) if they have any constructive alternative to promoting public transport the only solution they come up with is to build a bypass across the South Downs. Yeah, really environment-friendly.

I would also take any professed concern about cyclists with a large pinch of salt given the pitiful provisions for cycle parking in the village.

Come on, parish council, why not justify your questionable existence by being constructive for once?

-Michael Hoey, Rottingdean