Although I don't own a car, I haven't been able to exclude them from my life.

I live on a rat run in Patcham. Church Hill is a narrow lane between the A27 and London Road, which vehicles struggle to negotiate. It is usually cluttered with cars and vans, mainly owned by non-residents.

Many buildings on Church Hill are listed and it boasts an ancient church, a filled-in village pond and a tithe barn.

The row of old cottages where I live have front doors opening directly on to the road. Often, due to parked vans, it is difficult to see approaching vehicles when stepping outside - a hazard which has been continually side-stepped when pleas for traffic calming on the hill have been put to Brighton and Hove City Council.

So you can imagine my alarm on learning there is a proposed park-and-ride facility at one end of the road.

The policy and resources committee seems unaware of the situation which already exists here and the level of endemic traffic congestion.

Tailback traffic often extends as far as Pycombe on the A23 and the feeder route to the A27 bypass is invariably chock-a-block.

Does the committee seriously think incoming drivers will give up their place in the Brighton queue and struggle to a park-and-ride site?

If it does, it is seriously underestimating the mentality of today's motorist, which is basically "me first and up yours, Jack".

The park-and-ride site needs to be located further up the A23, where vehicles could channel into it more easily. The one in Oxford is well out of town, readily accessible from a free-flowing trunkway and is affordable as well.

Who benefits from destroying the last vestiges of Patcham as a village? Certainly not its long-suffering residents.

During the past week, I have heard many angry voices condemning the scheme and have yet to hear one village voice condone the insensitive and short-sighted approach to parking in Brighton and Hove.

Traffic problems won't be solved by increasing the facilities available for it. As with motorways, more lanes mean more traffic.

The answer lies in discouraging the use of cars.

I would urge the council to seriously consider the consequences of using Patcham Court Farm as a major parking area. It will encouraged litter, fumes, noise pollution and will be a magnet for joy riders, vandals and car thieves.

Above all, it would be a move which could destroy yet another village community.

-JH Player, Patcham