As usual, the first response to the very real problem of unsightly estate agents' "For sale" signs is to ban them or, at best, make the selling agents waste time and money getting a council permit.

May I suggest an alternative? Site-suitable, secure noticeboards around the conservation areas where sales agents can put up details of their properties. Then there would be no need for "For sale" boards at all.

In fact, it would probably make a buyer's life simpler, as details of all the local properties could be accessed in one place.

With a bit of imaginative selling, Brighton and Hove City Council could probably get the estate agents to sponsor these, so it wouldn't even cost us anything.

-John Anthony, Fairford Close, Haywards Heath