SIR - Re the Sands car park controversy, the City Council is continuing to perpetuate the myth that attempting to construct a car park on designated Common Land can preserve the 'air and exercise' section of the legislation that covers the use and abuse of such land.

Council members have been informed of the ruling of Judge Foster (I am sure they were already aware of it) in a case involving Southampton Corporation in November 1969.

He said: "It is true that if you consider the car parks without any cars upon them a person can exercise upon them but when the car parks have cars upon them it seems to be inevitable that the space so occupied cannot be used for exercise or air. In my judgement, therefore, the proposed works will be unlawful unless the Minister's consent is obtained."

So far the council has not attempted to obtain the Minister's permission, so what it is proposing is, on the basis of this judgement, unlawful.

David R Williams, Save Our Sands Action Group

Green plea

SIR - Many of the residents of Gilesgate and Gilesgate Moor will not yet know of the proposed development of ten four and five-bedroomed executive houses on the field at the corner of the A690 and Belmont Road behind the houses in Willowtree Avenue.

It appears from the road layout on the plans that this is only the first stage of a much larger development. From each of these houses any number of cars may come out of the gate opposite the Willowtree flats on to the busy High Grange access road in rush hours. Hundreds of local people, their children and dogs have enjoyed this field for generations. There are many birds nesting there and a wide variety of wildflowers. It has been regarded as a green wedge since before the Willowtree houses were built.

If you object to the development of this land please write to the Planning Officer of Durham City Council at Byland Lodge. If you are worried about traffic implications, wildlife and the public footpath across the land please copy your letter to the Director of Environment at County Hall.

Janet Murrell Gilesgate Moor, Durham

Waste of money

SIR - The general opinion around seems to be that we had a very satisfactory system for the collection of newspapers for recycling.

We put them out fortnightly in plastic bags and they were always picked up. Now we have a huge box each, with no lid. On very wet days the papers will be a mess. There is no way I will start cleaning empty food tins. And do we keep these boxes outside? Vandals will have a whale of a time. An unnecessary expense I think. E Ridley, Chester-le-Stree