Peter Matzke's negative and rather misleading comments regarding proposals to introduce parking restrictions in Goldsmid ward, Hove (Letters, July 19), compel me to do the strangest of things and praise Brighton and Hove City Council.

Following the introduction of a residents' parking scheme in central Hove last summer, Goldsmid was effectively turned into a giant overspill car park. Anybody can, and does, use our streets to park, often for weeks at

a time.

This is where to come if you want to dump an old wreck or lose a second car for a while. Most days, it looks like the national camper van club is holding its annual convention here. Kerb-crawling drivers cruise the area looking for spaces. Pedestrians are followed by vehicles driven at walking pace on the off-chance they might be about to move a car. It is nothing less than stalking. Oh, yes, and for the hapless residents, there is nowhere to park.

Mr Matzke accuses the council of failing to consult adequately. In fact, there is no legal obligation on the council to hold any form of public consultation before introducing a scheme such as this. However, having once presented a proposal that failed to satisfy the needs of one section of the ward, it has chosen to set out its revised plans in advance so, this time, it can get it right.

The previous plan, of course, followed extensive and expensive consultation with residents and other interested parties. The streamlined method used this time has meant work done previously isn't wasted and the expense to council taxpayers is kept to a minimum. All of this sounds uncharacteristically sensible to me.

On the same page as Mr Matzke's letter, former London residents Roy Wilcox and Amanda George come out against the Goldsmid proposals because they oppose controlled parking in Brighton and Hove. But restrictions existed long before they moved here and they are not about to go away. Our problems in Goldsmid stem not from basic principles of parking enforcement but from having become an isolated anomaly in the middle of the city needing to be brought into line with surrounding areas.

The 542 signatures on the petition Mr Matzke refers to were collected at a time when the effects of controls in neighbouring zones had yet

to be fully felt here. What is more, the issue of ten-hour bays, which prompted many people to sign, has been addressed, indicating that the previous consultation was a success. As for visitors, they can park for £1 a day in all other areas and there is no suggestion it will be any different in Goldsmid.

-Brian Williams, York Avenue, Hove