Sir, - C Chambers queries the care of the Fishponds roundabout at Thirsk Road, Yarm ("What is the point?", D&S, Sep 5).

We would like to reassure residents that Stockton Borough Council's Care For Your Area street cleaning teams make daily visits to this area to ensure it is litter free. We also clear weeds and tend to plants on a regular basis, although the continued poor weather has made life a struggle for some of the plants this year.

Our recent success in the Northumbria in Bloom awards, where no less than 20 awards came the borough's way, demonstrates our commitment to caring for sites such as this.

The issue of A-board signs on the footway, also taken up by Gordon Howes ("Enforce the law", D&S, Sep 12), is one the council takes seriously but which does provoke opposing views. On the one hand, local businesses claim they are vital to their trade, but many people consider them at best unsightly and at worst a hazard to pedestrians, particularly those with visual impairments.

Similarly the question of signage and advertisements is a matter of balance. The needs of small business and the distinctive nature they provide to our towns must be balanced with safety for pedestrians, conservation of the built environment and a range of other issues.

Over the past few weeks, officers from our enforcement team have visited local businesses in Yarm to advise owners about the laws relating to Aboards.

Later this year, we will be consulting on proposals for our future policy on these signs and how to regulate them. We hope this will find the most appropriate balance.

Coun JENNIE BEAUMONT, cabinet member for the environment; Coun BOB COOK, cabinet member for regeneration and transport; Coun STEVE NELSON, cabinet member for housing and community.