Because I don't have access to the internet, the only way I can find out about local events, talks, lectures, plays, local bands and club nights is from The Argus or people handing out flyers.

Many of the organisations that advertise with flyers do not have the money to pollute our city with huge advertising hoardings.

I was therefore extremely worried to read that Brighton and Hove City Council plans to charge companies a fee to hand out flyers, and order them to clean up flyers that have been dropped - presumably they will be fined if they don't collect the litter (The Argus, January 21).

While, like all of us, I want a cleaner city, to me this is an issue of free speech. Nobody is suggesting that the litter from supermarkets (carrier bags), fast food venues (unnecessary packaging) or free newspapers should be collected from our streets by those who produce it.

Perhaps they should. There is far more of it than discarded flyers.

Let's keep free speech genuinely free for those who really need it.

  • Dave Jones, Springfield Road Brighton