For more than a decade Brighton and Hove meant Brunswick Green and Cream to its 260,000 residents.

But last year, Brighton and Hove City Council adopted a new “floating squares” persona.

The local authority claims the new design, which was brought in without consultation to its website, letter heads, and other official documents, brings more “consistency” when communicating with taxpayers.

Yet some of those who foot the bill are still not sure if it was right to swap tradition for the new design.

They have also questioned whether it was democratic to make such a decision without asking councillors or the electorate.

When asked how much the new design cost, the local authority was unable to provide a sum merely stating the change had been done “in-house”.

Bill Cowell, of East Brunswick Residents’ Association, said: “Brunswick Green and Cream have been around in the city for years. So why didn’t they ask anyone before they went ahead with it?

“We didn’t need the change and, when considering the economic situation, it seems like a waste to go ahead with any unnecessary change.”

Rachael Bates, of Albany Villas, Hove, said she felt the new design was “verging on hideous”.

She added: “I can understand the need to appear approachable and in touch with the people but the gaudy blue and purple with floating squares is certainly not an improvement.

“I can certainly think of much better ways of spending our money than deciding whether the council website should be repugnant red or garish green.”

Central services cabinet member Jason Kitcat said: “It is not top of the agenda as there are many other more pressing issues we must deal with.

“But I have to admit the blue and purple is different to what residents are used to.

“However we will have to weigh up if such a decision is financially viable, particularly in these economic times.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Like many other organisations, the council introduced a new visual identity to bring more consistency to the way we communicate with residents.

“This was done to improve the effectiveness of what we do. While the design is consistent, our identity uses a very broad range of colours.

“We have no plans to change this. The development of the visual identity was done in-house and is only applied to new communications that we produce.”

Which logo do you prefer? Tell us by writing to our letters page, emailing letters@theargus.co.uk or commenting below.