The Argus published a letter from me on December 11 in which I complained I had been issued with a car parking fine for no good reason.

In that letter, I urged everyone who thought they had been unfairly treated to join me in trying to bring the system to a halt by appealing in writing against their fines.

The chaos surrounding the administration of this scheme can be seen from the fact that Christine Holmes (Letters, April 19) has been waiting since August 2001 for a proper reply to her appeal.

Readers may like to know my own appeal has been answered, four months after it was submitted.

They may not be altogether surprised to learn the appeal has been dismissed. They may, however, be interested in the reasons.

I quote here, verbatim, part of a letter to me from Jenny Rowlands, Director of Environment: "Observation period on private vehicle is two minutes. This is observed to give the driver a chance to show there loading and unloading and goods vehicle are given five minutes observation.

"This is enforced by Brighton and Hove City Council that the parking attendants carry out this observation period."

This answer reinforces my long-held suspicion the council offices must house a secret Treating All Council Taxpayers With Equal Contempt Department.

It also leads me to assume at least part of the recent council tax rise must be due to the need to establish an adult literacy unit in the Town Hall to help officers with spelling, punctuation and articulation of argument as they prepare their Capital of Culture bid.

Will I now pay my fine or take my appeal to the next stage? Until I've decoded the council's gibberish, I simply don't know.

-Paul Moorman, Queens Park, Brighton