We're not anti-Labour, we're anti-conference

They were disturbed at night by continual police activity outside their homes, including vehicle movements, police dogs barking throughout the night and loud police radios at all hours.

Local residents were not allowed to park or unload near their homes, some hoteliers were prevented from unloading outside their hotels and the stereotypical police attitude was so obvious it even transferred to the normally helpful traffic wardens.

As the political conference delegates were so well protected, many of us were in fear of terrorists targeting peripheral areas.

Many incorrectly thought we were anti-Labour. The majority of the local residents, however, were, and are, only against governments holding conferences in Brighton, regardless of their political persuasion. The inconvenience caused is immense and the cost of policing these events runs into millions - of our money!

Following the last conference, I instigated a meeting at Brighton Town Hall between the police, Brighton and Hove Council officials, the Press, local residents and traders. The minutes were taken by the police.

How refreshing to see the police and Amanda Shepherd, from the council, take note of our complaints and appear now to have eliminated most of that which caused us the greatest inconvenience.

My recent request to substitute the lost residents' parking bays in Queensbury Mews to voucher bays in Regency Square, for example, resulted in an immediate change of signage.

My recent complaint regarding excessive police radio noise and a request for radio ear-pieces to be issued, has also partially been complied with, with most issued to officers working throughout the night.

How unfortunate, then, after all the work I have done to assist the police in their community relations at this event (and many others at other times), a police officer found it necessary to use so much force against me outside the Metropole Hotel on Saturday night.

-Terry Wing, Regency Square, Brighton