Sir, I am very happy that the city council is making moves towards tackling the problem of litter that lets Oxford down so badly. However, in their enthusiasm, they appear to be including leafletting in this drive. The freedom to distribute political leaflets is an essential part of our democracy, and the two issues shouldn't be confused.

Rumour has it that the council plans to levy hefty fines - hundreds of pounds have been suggested - for leafletting. The Government has passed a plethora of laws in recent years attempting to restrict our freedom to comment on and criticise their actions. It would be an enormous pity, and a dark day for local democracy, if the council, with the best of intentions, were to follow suit.

Our group, the Oxford Network for Global Justice and Peace, has been leafletting for the past five years, since the beginning of the aerial bombardment of Afghanistan. If leaflets are thrown down, we pick them up. Many people have read our leaflets, signed our petitions and thanked us for what we do. This venerable freedom is now under threat.

Litter is a separate issue and, in addition to fines, is best solved by an investment in brooms. Mechanical litter-sweepers which travel down the centre of suburban roads, unable to clean gutters and pavements because of parked cars, achieve nothing.

Virginia Brookes, Oxford