I can confirm to Chris Dunford (Letters, October 28) that Brighton and Hove City Council is not closing Mill Road indefinitely because of its road surface.

Mill Road was closed nearly two weeks ago for emergency repairs and investigations following a serious accident. During this time, we have taken the opportunity to carry out routine maintenance works together with drain and gully cleaning.

The road surface was tested and the skid resistance found to be more than adequate.

However, our engineers decided that, as the surface is some years old, it would benefit from a specialist treatment to improve traction and remove surface build-ups to ensure the road, which is fairly steep, is in as good condition as possible.

We were held up when specialist equipment broke down last week.

However, I am pleased to report that the plant is back in action today and we expect Mill Road to be open again by the end of this week.

Mill Road has been available for park-and-ride use and private access during the works.

-Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair, Brighton and Hove environment committee