I read with interest two articles about planning consent - or lack of (The Argus, February 3).

In each case, consent has been declined by Brighton and Hove City Council for the following reasons: "Harmful to the character and appearance of the area" and "would spoil the neighbourhood".

I must admit to being pleased our council's planning department considers the effects on the surrounding area. However, is this always the case ?

Residents of Westbourne ward have recently had to put up with several planning applications for homes being granted which, we feel, were pushed through without due consideration of their effect on the area.

We are left with homes being built in residential streets where young children live to house unsupervised young people with drug and mental-health problems.

I believe planning permission for these was mere formality. The council clearly has serious problems finding proper homes for this type of patient after a recent White Paper led to a decline in numbers of rest homes in the city.

Where, then, does the council put these people currently taking up hospital beds? In residential streets, where the local residents are "expected to take care of them", as the council's Local Plan states.

-Gary Howell, Aymer Road, Hove