I have lived in Brighton for 15 years and in that time I've seen a lot of changes, many for the better.

The new library is a great facility and I'm sure the way it is designed will greatly increase our use of it.

However, modern buildings are rather stark. No matter how creative the use of glass and metal, it lacks the warmth and natural feel of wood and other organic substances.

Has anyone thought how the new building could be enhanced by the addition of green living plants in suitable places?

As well as being beautiful and gentle on the eye, they would add oxygen to the air and remove some carbon dioxide, making the place even more environmentally friendly.

Perhaps someone has already thought of this and I look forward to seeing them in place.

On the subject of a safe and friendly environment, has anybody else noticed the proliferation of advertising boards which are placed outside shops and restaurants on the pavements every day, all day?

This is a crowded city and sometimes the pavements seem scarcely wide enough to accommodate pedestrians comfortably.

When these boards take up so much space the result is that we all have to squeeze around them.

Those of us who are able to walk without difficulty find them awkward and a nuisance. For people in wheelchairs, the partially sighted and those with small children, these boards are downright dangerous.

Do the businesses which use them need official permission to obstruct the pavements?

If so, I wonder if those who grant that permission have noticed how many of these obstructions there are in our busy streets. Are they really necessary?

-M Spencer, Brighton