I am astounded at the venom thrown at Mary Mears, leader of our council, for expressing an opinion and having the courage to go against the tide of totally immoral behaviour that is sweeping Brighton and Hove. It is facile and childish to dismiss her by labelling her as a prude rather than listening to her serious and real concerns.

Only a few weeks ago, The Argus’s front page highlighted a catalogue of moral failures and degradation in our city (The Argus, May 18). Nothing to be proud of and nothing to do with the vibrant, diverse and artistic city I presume we all love and support.

More to the point, have child protection agencies been consulted regarding this event and will a CPR check be made by the police on all the naked participants of this bike ride?

Two weeks later, on July 1 I believe, it will be another anniversary of the death of poor little Sarah Payne who was murdered not far from here. The whole nation was outraged at the time. Such a high profile case, and yet how quickly we forget. Would this public naked bike ride really take place, had Sarah died yesterday?

I do not know about anyone else but these two events really do not sit comfortably together in my mind.

I hope that all responsible parents will keep well away on the day. As for Mary Whitehouse, she must be turning in her grave!

Nicole Pendlebury, Wilbury Villas, Hove

Although I am neither a prude nor a Tory councillor, I wholeheartedly support our council leader, Mary Mears and those other Tory councillors who have been involved in the council’s opposition to the event.

We need to take heed of the words of Coun Dawn Barnett: “It’s immoral, it’s indecent and reduces the city to the sleazy image it had in the 1930s with its dirty weekends.” As council leader Mary Mears rightly points out: “This event will wittingly or unwittingly be seen by large numbers of our residents and visitors, many of whom will be young children.”

She also adds: “At the very least it will lower the tone of our city and damage our reputation with visitors.” All this when we are aiming to be the cultural capital of Europe.

Cyclists may well be vulnerable, but a protest wearing ordinary clothes or cycling gear would be just as effective. In any case why don’t they, in a peaceful and decent manner, protest about levels of pollution in the city and the number of life-endangering vehicles there are on our roads?

Let’s face it, the main object of nude bike rides is sex – not serious protest – and those who engage in it are, as Coun Barnett says, “exhibitionists, not protestors.”

Rev John Webster, Wilfrid Road, Hove

These naked riders are taking part in the bike ride for good reasons and only for one day, so surely if anyone objects to seeing this event, then they should stay away from it, especially with children.

They can come to the town any other day, can’t they?

So all you bikers, enjoy the air to your bodies, blow the spoilsports, and don’t forget the Vaseline.

Mary Frankel, Station Road, Hove