It has been passed by the council and the police that on Sunday, August 3 I will have to pay £5 to walk up St James’s Street and surrounding streets leading to Edward Street and Marine Parade. This is because of the Pride street party.

This means if I do not live in that area I will not be able to visit any of the shops or coffee shops unless I pay the £5 fee.

Why should I pay to visit a shop or supermarket or walk on a public highway I may or may not use on a regular basis? The Pride committee have said this is required to pay for security, crowd control, stop under-aged drinkers and to raise money towards charity. This is utter rubbish.

Are the people of Kemptown, Brighton and all shop and coffee shops owners aware of this? I am sure some of the shops will lose business.

It has been said the residents of the area can apply for free wrist bands but if you are not a resident then tough.

I want to know what all the local shops think. I also would like to know that, as this is a public highway, has the Secretary of State approved this as I believe he is the only person who can. I also want to know if I insist on walking up the street to go to Morrisons or to any of the other shops and I refuse to pay £5 will I be arrested? Can the council or police stop me.

I would like clear answers only and not excuses the council normally give I am speaking on behalf of many people who use this area. I can see this is causing more hassle and more bad tempers. The street party will in fact spread to outside the controlled area because people will want to party but not pay, and why should they?

This is only another way for the Pride organisers to make money, and for once the people of Kemptown and Brighton are not going to sit back and take this.

Robert Beveridge Western Street, Brighton