As usual, Blue Circle tries to counter well-researched scientific evidence with a soundbite.

Mike Cowell claims that "government research shows no proven link with asthma" and seeks to rubbish the Wiltshire Health Authority's informed response to their application for tyre burning. He is clearly unaware of advice from the DETR which warns: "People with lung diseases or heart conditions are at greater risk, especially if they are elderly. Daily changes in air pollution trigger increased admissions to hospital and contribute to the premature death of those who are seriously ill".

In particular, the Department of Health's COMEAP reports on Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution say: "There is evidence to show that some people with diseases of the airways (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD and asthma) may be adversely affected by day-to-day changes in the levels of air pollutants. This is not surprising, since people with asthma are especially sensitive to a range of irritant substances. Air pollutants include strong irritants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2)".

Even if we discount particulates, sulphur dioxide levels rose tenfold in the trials.

Blue Circle has always said that it would abandon tyre burning if there was significant evidence of a threat to public health. Now they should honour that commitment.

Much of the evidence put forward by The Air that We Breathe Group has now been shown to be true: the Environment Agency agrees that the way data was obtained was flawed; the health authority has confirmed that we are right to be concerned about particulates, heavy metals and increases in sulphur dioxide. When any new polluting process is introduced, the burden of proof should lie with the polluter. But it has been left to local people to spend hundreds of hours, and thousands of pounds of their own money, amassing evidence. Without The Air that We Breathe Group, the health authority would even have been denied access to the full data for their report.

The Environment Agency should now take notice of the evidence, act like the watchdog it is supposed to be, and refuse this application immediately.

Adrian Fox,

The Air that We Breathe Group,

Westbury.