I agree with Jean Calder (The Argus, May 8). This city is constantly complaining about the consequences of its youth, yet it supplies nothing in the way of leisure other than a couple of craggy swimming pools which charge quite exorbitant prices to go in.

Panorama on Sunday night reminded us there are over 350,000 children suffering with drug- addicted parents. Knowing that Brighton has one of the highest rates of drug deaths in the UK, it is not surprising that we have a problem with some of our youths.

Jean's point about schools ignoring bullying is spot on. The response I had from a local school was simply to take my child away if I wasn't satisfied with their anti-bullying strategies which basically consisted of telling parents to sort it out among themselves.

Then we have the Christian teachings that go on in some of our fundamentalist evangelical churches reminding our children constantly about having to be sorry.

Why, what have we done? they ask themselves, with parents who are divorcing, parents who are struggling financially and, in some cases, no parents at all.

I thought such Victorian attitudes towards children had gone.

The only way to change behaviour is through love. Is Brighton and Hove sending a clear message that it loves its children enough to provide protection from abuse, a sound and safe education environment, reliable health care and plenty of opportunities to express themselves freely?

I dream of a time when there might be an ice rink like the one we had when I was a child, several swimming pools (indoor and out), free tennis courts and lessons and an education that matches the rest of Europe and comes up to the standards set by the independent sector.

Perhaps then we would have a generation that would have the courage and wisdom to create a Government which knows what to do with its power and makes Britain a country to be proud of instead of one which boasts five wars in six years. And we point the finger at our yob culture.

-Jacqueline Madders, Hove