SIR: I know many people will react to the news of the new Garden Waste charge by calling it a stealth tax but really it is righting a wrong which is the current stealth subsidy (Chronicle, July 9).

At the moment, everyone in the district pays council tax and receives as part of that a free green waste collection. Sounds great except many households cannot take advantage of it since they don’t have the luxury of a garden. Do they get a rebate? No they don’t. They are in effect subsidising the service for everyone fortunate to have a garden.

A garden waste collection is not a statutory duty and should be charged for. Sixty five per cent of councils that currently collect garden waste charge for the service and the response from residents is overwhelmingly positive.

Giles Gooding,

Fordington Avenue,

Fulflood,

Winchester