There has been much discussion recently about the cost of flytipping to councils.

To many people this means a van turning up in a driveway or country lane and "tipping" its load and then "flying" off unnoticed.

While genuine flytipping is a serious problem, the real problem we have locally has little to do with this.

It is quite simply illegal dumping of general household rubbish.

Piling up rubbish in full view causes annoyance to many people and is hazardous to health.

Some have the idea Lewisham wants people to leave rubbish in the streets for collection.

The fact Lewisham leaves its own blue bags of rubbish in the street sometimes for up to a week sets a bad example and reinforces confusion about its policies.

There are notices in some places which say "flytipping is illegal" but these only confuse people further who think: "This only applies to flytipping and not to what I am doing. I'm just leaving my rubbish for the council to collect. That's what I'm supposed to do."

In some places there are signs stating there is 24-hour CCTV surveillance, again this reinforces the confusion as we are not made aware of any prosecutions.

Lewisham should review its policies and procedures carefully.

There should be a campaign showing dumping rubbish in the streets is illegal.

Surveillance should be effective and prosecutions made public.

All organised dumping, whether by individuals or companies, should be stopped.

If you have a concern about dumping or about dumping in general, write to your MP or your councillor.

Tom Sutcliffe Address supplied