THOSE, including Ian Hudspeth, who promote the myth in the Oxford Mail that council tax has not risen in the past couple of years should be named, shamed and re-educated. Garden refuse used to be collected in green canvas bags and the cost included – as with other refuse collections – as part of our council tax.

If you had a larger garden you could, on request, be supplied with a second bag at no extra cost.

However, since last year the city council refused to empty said green bags and would only collect garden refuse in brown wheelie bins, at an additional and separate cost to the taxpayer of £35 per annum – which has already risen this year to £36.75. When asked for an explanation, the only response we could get was: “It’s council policy.’’ This is a rip-off by any logical person’s thought processes – but when were local politics logical? All we ask of our council officials is that they show a degree of honesty in their transactions and in their dealings with those of us who, effectively, pay their wages/salaries.

MICK HEAVEY, Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford