Well done Derek Hillier (Letters, February 8) for stating the obvious about the waste of resources used in changing Palmeira Square.

But you only have to see the state of the pavements to see the need for the work - broken slabs with tarmac laid indiscriminately between, and bikes ridden and cars parked on them.

When will we have a council strong enough to make it illegal to drive on to pavements? They weren't built to withstand the weight of a vehicle.

A visitor stopped me recently outside Marks & Spencer and asked what the marks on the pavement were. On being told it was gum, she was appalled by such a health hazard. Yet the public don't seem to notice.

Let's have pride in our city. People spend a lot of money making their homes look nice, only to step outside the front door to be faced by black boxes, green wheelie bins and litter.

City status doesn't seem to have done us any favours. Where were the Nimbys when we lost wonderful venues such as the Astoria cinema?

Why the fuss about old buildings when so many are in such poor condition? I welcome these wonderful new buildings being planned for the city.

-P James, Portslade