Mrs Brown (Letters, August 25) attacked me for doing nothing over problems at Aldrington Halt, a small railway station in Westbourne ward.

This is not the case and over the years The Argus has featured many stories about my efforts to try to clean it up, reduce vandalism etc.

Earlier this year I met South Central officials at the station to try to work out how we could cut down on vandalism and just last week I was in touch with the council and South Central again to try to improve security at the site.

With regard to coming from Derby, I moved to Brighton in 1989 and, after a spell in Eastbourne, bought my flat in Hove in 1991.

Given how much time I spend on community affairs, I would have thought my dedication to the city was beyond question - especially since I have recently given up nearly half my income to do this role full-time.

Former councillor Jenny Barnard-Langston (Letters, August 26) implies I supported Heather James' recent job appointment in relation to the King Alfred.

That is not what I said. I did not even know about the appointment until it became public knowledge.

I have been in the position of losing my job because of a political change (following the election of 1997 which left me without employment for a period) so on a human level I can appreciate the need to find a job.

I did express my surprise that she should have been appointed to deal with public relations, as an ex-Labour councillor, for such a controversial development.

My opposition to inappropriate development at the King Alfred goes back to 1996, long before, I suspect, Mrs Barnard-Langston took such a close interest in the issue for her own political ends.

-Coun Brian Oxley leader, Conservative Group, Brighton and Hove City Council, Westbourne Ward, Hove