From time to time, travellers camp on Telscombe Tye. I have four objections to this.

Firstly, they are breaking the law. There are large notices stating unauthorised vehicles are not allowed. Camping is strictly prohibited.

When I pointed out to travellers they were not allowed to drive or camp on the Tye, they did not dispute the facts but made it abundantly clear they were going to stay regardless.

Secondly, every travelling group that has come on to the Tye has damaged it. Telscombe Town Council writes: "The whole of the Tye is a designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty", some of it "within the Ministry of Agriculture's Environmentally Sensitive Agreement scheme."

Defra states: "The Downs provide valuable habitats for the wild flowers and insects associated with traditional chalk grassland as well as breeding sites for birds such as lapwings and snipe."

The travellers' vehicles flatten large areas of grassland, especially since they tend to park on various areas of the Tye and not beside the surrounding main roads. Clearly they severely disrupt the wildlife that live there, especially the nesting birds.

The travellers dump their rubbish around their camps and the wind blows it everywhere.

Apart from bags, bottles, cartons and used toilet paper and nappies, the last lot of rubbish included a huge gas cylinder and a wrecked car which retained its number plates, so little did they care about being found out.

To make ends meet, the travellers offer to do construction work such as surfacing driveways, telling residents - who they make sure live some miles from their camp sites - they come from afar and are staying in hotels.

They also possess or hire lorries which trundle across the Tye and deposit large quantities of debris in the hedgerows, which then spills on to the pathways.

Thirdly, travellers are often abusive and threatening. I happened to be on the Tye when a bunch of them arrived on April 6.

In response to my pointing out they were not allowed to set up camp there, one of the men spearheading them said they would and there was "nothing you can do about it".

A previous bunch subjected us to three nights and days of thumping music. When I asked the DJ to lower the volume he replied he could only do so if instructed by the boss. Who was the boss? He didn't know and nor did any of the many who were gathered around him.

The travellers' lorries, driving on and off the Tye, broke the kerbstones along Gorham Way.

When the residents pieced the stones together, the travellers told them the stones were a hindrance and threatened to take them away altogether if they did not leave them alone.

One lady's garden fence was deliberately broken down by travellers' children and another lady was abused and threatened by travellers while walking her dog near one of their sites.

I have spoken to people, especially the elderly, who are fearful at their arrival.

Fourthly, we are left to pay their bills. The cost of court proceedings to evict the travellers who occupied the Tye in April was £1,627.

I learned from Lewes District Council that the cost for clearing their rubbish was "above £400", for removing their dumped car "about £65" and for replacing the kerbstones they broke "about £300".

So ratepayers have to pay for the illegal actions of people who are quite capable of paying themselves.

It is sometimes said the travellers should be free to roam. It is their right. Certainly, consistent with the rights of others.

If I was to misuse the Tye in any of the many ways they misuse it, if I was to subject others to constant loud noise and if I was to abuse, threaten and damage, I would expect to be prosecuted.

It is for travellers to conform to the codes of society, not for society to suffer under them. If they will not change their ways, they must be stopped. It is intolerable they should move from community to community inflicting unhappiness on each.

-C Dunn, Bannings Vale, Saltdean