HERE is a good news story you may have missed: Britain's greenhouse gas emissions have gone down for the first time in five years.

And here is more good news: We are recycling more waste than at any time in our history. Water companies have reduced their pollution incidents to the lowest level in four years.

These encouraging facts from the Environment Agency may be no more than a flash of sunlight in a gathering environmental storm, but they show that some progress is being made.

Here in Dorset we have more reasons than most for wanting the authorities to outlaw polluters - our exquisite environment plays a part in the county's prosperity. Tourism thrives on the pristine condition of our beaches and countryside.

It is right that courts come down hard on blatant disregard of pollution laws and that persistent offenders are punished.

But it would be quite wrong to treat firms with a good record that make a genuine error in the same way.

There are signs that at least some parts of government are finally getting the message about over-regulation but progress is patchy.

Hurried introduction of European regulations without proper consultation with the business sector can be disastrous.

Recent legislation regarding the recycling of electrical and electronic waste (such as computers and washing machines) is a classic botch-up of the kind that comes when ministers and civil servants ignore the business sector.

The decision to delay these regulations for six months may be late, but it is welcome.

This gives everyone involved - especially retailers who will have to offer to take back obsolete goods from customers - time to plan for this momentous change.

Business has as much to lose as individuals from a deteriorating environment, but government has to learn to listen to us if we are to help maintain this country's wealth.

The line between profit and loss is often perilously thin.