This month's edition of City News paints a less than accurate picture of St James's Street in Brighton.

Most of the residents, traders and visitors that I speak to are highly critical of the failings of the Brighton and Hove City Council in a number of key areas.

It appears impossible to keep the area free of litter. At times, parts of it resemble a mini municipal rubbish tip.

If the posh areas of Hove don't want communal rubbish bins, then wheel them down to us. A few in our area - properly sited and emptied regularly - would keep the scourge of black sacks off our narrow pavements.

The proximity of at least three major centres used by people with drug and alcohol problems leads to shoplifting and muggings by those trying to feed their addictions and attracts drug dealers peddling their wares.

These centres should be located within the grounds of the local hospitals where integrated treatment facilities and health care can be provided in a safe and supportive environment.

The area feels distinctly unsafe at night and in the early hours of the morning.

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people have been attacked in the early hours because of a lack of visible policing when the clubs close and homophobes decide to come to the gay village for a spot of queer-bashing.

West Street is heavily policed at closing time. St James's Street appears not to get the same level of attention, despite having a highly-vulnerable community living and socialising in it.

The 24-hour economy may be a blessing for some parts of the tourist industry but it can make life hell for residents who live in the centre of town.

Very little of the money that tourists spend in commercial venues actually ends up in the coffers of the council or the police, yet the residents - via the council tax - have to pay to clear up the litter that is left and fund police to protect us from those rendered violent through too much drink.

The St James's Action Group has worked hard in partnership with the statutory agencies to turn the area around after the dark days of the 1980s and 1990s.

We achieved considerable success and we need to remember that. But there is a feeling in the community that the council and the police have taken their eye off the ball and have failed to follow through on the improvements we all worked so hard to put in place.

-Dr Alan Bond, St James's Action Group, White Street, Brighton