May I take the opportunity through your columns to reply to Candy Atherton regarding her instance to use the Coal Board to investigate mine waste in Cornwall?

I am sorry, Ms Atherton completely missed the point I was making. She is obviously not aware the Camborne School of Mines advised the Coal Board as to the methods of removing pollution in Wales. (Indeed CSM recently dealt with mine waste pollution in Hayle Harbour). That expertise is still available and should be used. They would also be aware of the difference in leachates from Cornish mining, ie tin, copper and arsenic need treating in a vastly different way to coal waste.

Since the incident at Wheal Jane the Environment Agency has made vast headway in dealing with the water from the remaining adit related to that mine. As to the Red River that was so named when the mines were in their heyday and producing tin, the present pollution is more from the overflow from the very modern and up-to-date South West Water sewerage treatment works.

We are also concerned within the Mine Heritage area much Cornish mining archaeology could be destroyed in the name of clearing mine waste. An example is the top of the Tin Croft Man Engine lost by Kerrier Groundworks. Treasures such as this once destroyed cannot be replaced.

The people of Cornwall are all too aware of paying for improvements in the environment - they have been paying excessive amounts regarding the environmental charge via water bills for a considerable time. Despite this being assisted by European Funding we are still suffering sanitary products and raw sewage on our beaches and on our waterways.

Coun Stuart Cullimore.