YOUR article Rubbish Idea (Oxford Mail, July 19), tells of a Mr Madden, who has been taking his grass and foliage to Redbridge tip ever since it was opened, in a wheelbarrow. I cannot believe he is now going to be refused entry with it.

Surely he is doing a good job for the environment. And if he was to wear a fluorescent jacket, and other users of the tip keep to the speed limit, as they should, what is unsafe? After all, there are personnel on duty all the time.

Has health and safety gone mad?

As a former Oxford City Council shop steward, health and safety was part of my job, and I would always encourage safe practices then and now. But I’m afraid this is a joke.

If the county council wants to go to such an extreme, then take a look at the Castle Mound in New Road, where people, some with children, can walk to the top – and there is no safety barrier.

We all know how adventurous children can be, and there is nothing to stop someone falling from top to bottom and getting injured.

Also, if I should choose to sweep my close – which, like many areas never gets swept – would I now be considered unsafe if I was not wearing a fluorescent jacket?

Come on, let’s be sensible about this man with a wheelbarrow who could quite easily in the past have taken it behind his home in Weirs Lane and dumped it in the fields.

He, like all of us, now that our green bags are not going to be emptied, are not in favour of spending £35 for a brown bin each year on top of our council tax.

It will only encourage fly-tipping.

I only hope that common sense will prevail in this case.

COLIN SMITH George Moore Close Donnington Oxford