I am writing in relation to your article about Portishead Tip (August 9). Well done Cllr Howells for stirring up the murky waters of the North Somerset Council Mill Pond. We residents of Portishead have long been paying exorbitant council taxes into thei

I am writing in relation to your article about Portishead Tip (August 9). Well done Cllr Howells for stirring up the murky waters of the North Somerset Council Mill Pond. We residents of Portishead have long been paying exorbitant council taxes into their coffers only for them to spend it on Weston-super-Mare, housing drug addicts and social misfits who don't even come from the area. I'm sure they all deserve it but the council can't even provide us with a tip.They have known for months that the tip would need repairing but have only now thought of putting it out to tender. A relieved little birdie told me the falcons left weeks ago, so they kept their part of the bargain and didn't claim squatters rites. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realise that Portishead is planted very firmly at the back of the council's tiny little minds. Am I paying you councillors to dither? Well maybe I'll dither about paying my council tax next April and then get round to it by December.We have had to make numerous journeys to Weston and then queue for an age to use the impressive facilities there. How we envy the electronic sign that lights up showing our registration number as we enter, just in case we 'out of towners' come too often!I wonder if North Somerset Council will be giving me a refund for my council tax or pay for my petrol to Weston. Oh no! I forgot, I'm employed, work hard, never scrounge from the benefit agencies, am open and honest and always pay my bills. I've actually got more chance of seeing Lord Lucan riding Shergar in next year's Grand National.I drive past the tip in Valley Road every day and how I yearn to fly-tip at the entrance, but no, my conscience just won't let me. Although I did have a terrible pang of guilt when I emptied my car ash tray in the lay-by just below it the other day. I have just realised that I have been referring to our beloved tip as a tip, when in fact it is a Civic Amenity Site. Still at least I didn't call it a 'dump'. By the way what ever happened to 'Stig'. Is he living in Weston?N H Cossham - Portishead