Sir, - I read with concern your report about the illegal dumping of tyres on the land used by Hutton Rudby football club (D&S, June29).

Illegal dumping of any rubbish in this way is a disgrace, but tyres are a considerable problem because of the costs involved in their disposal. The laws are quite specific on this, but the big problem is that the unscrupulous will always ignore the law at considerable expense to the rest of us.

As a tyre dealer myself, I have to absorb the costs of disposal, which does amount to thousands of pounds a year, and it is this expense which in itself leads to the problem.

It distresses me when I see tyres dumped at random with no consideration for those who have to foot the bill. The recent fire in Stockton, in warehouse buildings used to stockpile old casings was also a major concern with associated risks to the environment, firemen and residents.

It worries me greatly that activities, which are obviously suspicious, go unreported. The warehouse had been systematically filled over a period of weeks before the fire, yet no one questioned the activity.

Someone must know who is responsible for the dumping of these tyres. 600 tyres take an awful lot of moving, yet no-one sees anything or reports anything suspicious.

Genuine traders have regard for the law, and respect for the environment, and the tyre trade as a whole is very aware of the problem. Waste Tyre Solutions of Durham operates a responsible recycling scheme, and they collect our casings on a regular basis. The problem is that the profits from flouting the law far outweigh the chances of being caught or the impact of punishment involved.

If we have laws to protect us and our environment, then we must also have the funds available for policing these laws. People must also realise that illegal activities have to be reported.

The Environment Agency does have the power to act and there have been a number of prosecutions with increasing severity of punishment when these unscrupulous individuals are taken to court.

I feel these laws must be rigorously enforced and this kind of dumping stopped without delay, or the general public will assume that all in this industry are the same.

Eventually we all pay, either as rate payers, or individuals, and the cost to our environment is immeasurable. I am afraid it will only get worse without immediate action.

DEREK CAMPBELL

Exhaust & Tyre Centre,

Yarm.

Folly of errors

Sir, - I have to admit some sadness when agreeing with your reader, Mr Bob Oram, on the state of Thornborough Woods and gardens in Leyburn (D&S letters, June 29).

For many years, I too, have made representation to have this important asset to the town made secure and tidied up. It was I who secured the listing of the Georgian folly, and it was I who warmed them that the wall was dangerous and would collapse.

In spite of being listed, the folly is in a perilous state, and in spite of the conservation area status, the woods and gardens are a disgrace. Readers will not be surprised if I blame mainly the incompetence of Richmondshire District Council for this situation.

At the same time I have to criticise our two district councillors, Edward Forth and Terry Jones, for not having represented their electorate in Leyburn. Sadly, they have failed us on just about every other issue as well, and they may therefore care to consider their position.

Meanwhile, the debate about Thornborough Hall goes on. This, too, has been mismanaged for the last three or four years at vast expense to council taxpayers.

The notion that Leyburn Town Council should buy this white elephant should be firmly discarded. There are financial and legal obstacles to such an enterprise and it is a total waste of time to hold further meetings and invite the public to comment.

Thornborough Hall should either be used to house the planning and building control department of Richmondshire, or be disposed of to a buyer which would secure proper use and maintenance.

Surely the difficulties of the Middleham Key Centre should tell us that these public buildings are relatively easy to acquire, but more difficult to maintain.

Richmondshire claimed that in fact it made a loss of £30,000 per annum several years ago on the hall. It also commissioned a survey which stated that it would cost half a million to bring the hall up to date for office use. I suspect that both figures were wrong.

BERNARD BORMAN

Brentwood,

Leyburn.

Work due to start

Sir, - If Mr Oram (D&S letters, June29)had taken the simple step of first asking either Coun Terry Jones or myself about the wall at Thornborough Hall before writing his letter, he would have discovered that re-building work on the retaining wall is due to start before September.

It is unfortunate that the wall fell down very soon after it was rebuilt about two years ago, and a great pity that it has taken so long to be put back up again. However, as we all know, in local government not everything goes as quickly or as smoothly as we would wish.

Hopefully the wall and that part of Thornborough Hall gardens adjacent to it will be restored to normal before the end of the year.

Coun T E FORTH

Bobbin Mill,

Garriston,

Leyburn.