The Brussels meeting of Worldwide Fund for Nature was rightly concerned about the effect of waste from old heavy metal mines, upon river beds and agricultural land. At least John Prescott was in Washington (Evening Press, April 19), persuading Al Gore to do more than talk about reducing greenhouse gases. Any progress is welcomed.

There have been, for the benefit of mankind, several firearms amnesties over the years, could we hope for a landowners' amnesty?

Many insecticides and chemicals were banned over the years, and if my memory serves me correctly, landowners had to pay charges to have these disposed of by the authorities.

Whether it really was 'financial cramp' (a genuine quote), or thrift, I don't know, but burying on one's land was an easy option.

More dangerous toxic substances may one day leak into river beds and cause more havoc.

So what about an amnesty for such landowners to help locate these danger spots? Wait too long and their secrets will die with them!

Gordon Ross,

Huntington Road,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.