I am as disappointed by Andy Webb's attitude to travellers as he obviously is about their recent presence on Telscombe Tye (Opinion, Argus 31).

It may be helpful to correct some of the inaccuracies in his letter before dealing with its main point.

Legislation, DETR guidance and agreed policy with local authorities all concur that if travellers are not causing significant problems to the community, then careful consideration must be taken before they are forcibly evicted by police.

Before the noisy party on Saturday these travellers had had very little impact on the local community.

Mr Webb's suggestion people on a grass field caused more damage than the herd of cattle there the previous week was plain daft.

That said, I demand the same standard of behaviour from travellers I would of anyone else. The police took action to ensure music volumes were kept at a reasonable level, resulting in just a single complaint.

I understand the last travellers' party on the Tye was in 1990, so a break of ten years cannot be bad. Those attending were almost exclusively travellers having a private party.

Having visited the site many times during the weekend there was no evidence of any other illegal activity.

More worrying are the double standards employed by Mr Webb. While we agree playing loud music in a field is unacceptable, he seems to be saying breaking the law by speeding is fine.

To describe speeding motorists as law-abiding and well-behaved is outrageous and insulting to those who have lost loved ones because of speeding drivers.

How many deaths have been caused by loud music, and how many by irresponsible, selfish drivers?

Don't be surprised if we continue the speed checks.

-Steve O'Rourke, Chief inspector, Sussex Police