Your editorial about barbecues (The Argus, August 18) is particularly apt in relation to the need for stricter enforcement of bylaws, the lack of which is becoming an all-too-familiar story.

Whether we look at cycling on the promenade, football matches on Hove lawns or persistent drug dealing on Brighton seafront (resulting in the closure of the subway) the story is the same: Lack of enforcement of rules by the council and/or the police.

The rules and regulations are clear enough, with sufficient sanctions to back them up, and every breach is apparent at the time - so the failure to tackle these important areas of health, safety and community convenience is surely one of willpower.

Council officers continue to say they prefer to "move on" people who have illegal barbecues rather than fine them - even though the overwhelming lack of success of this approach is self-evident.

Environment councillor Gill Mitchell and leader Ken Bodfish should now put real energy into effective enforcement of rules made by their own council and their Government or explain clearly why they choose not to use the resources at their disposal for this purpose.

They manage to do this on enforcement of parking restrictions, the solitary exception to this culture of indifference.

Calling for a review of bylaws is just an irrelevant fudge.

What does it matter if they aren't enforced anyway?

Perhaps it will indeed take legal redress by injured parties against the council before real action will be taken.

-Peter Reeves, Hove