HERE in Middlesbrough, as in other towns, we have the odd problem of absentee land owners living outside the area and who leave the land they own to become an eyesore at times.

Why should our residents pay council tax to look out onto an eyesore?

To that end, I sent an email to those in authority in Middlesbrough Council referring them to two such sites and asking where we stood legally, in order to try and solve the problem.

Sadly, the response I received from the executive councillor responsible for re-generation in this town, Ashley Waters, was simply one sentence, "you have missed the Hyphen out of Fly tipping", written exactly like that and nothing more.

I expected a better answer from someone in that position when it concerned such a serious matter.

Councillor Joan McTigue, Middlesbrough