At this time of year, the political parties all meet for their annual conferences.

We are told of the democratic system in the United Kingdom and how we should treasure it. But this democracy seems not to have percolated down to local government.

The citizens of Oxford have had demonstrated to them, in no uncertain terms, that our local politicians know what is best for us, despite being told by the majority what they would wish to happen. I refer to the decisions being taken, or that have been taken on our behalf, namely: The county council, dominated by the Conservative Party, has voted unanimously to levy parking charges on the citizens of Oxford under a residents' parking scheme, despite the indication by Oxford residents that they do not agree.

Having waived parking charges in the car parks in the city centre in the evenings and at weekends, thus incurring a loss of income, the proposed residents' scheme would seem to be a way of balancing the books at our expense and to the benefit of their supporters.

Oxford City Council, controlled by the Liberal Democrats, is imposing a revision of waste collection and recycling, again against the wishes of the majority of citizens.

While the new proposals for recycling are welcome, fortnightly collection is apparently causing deep concern to the citizens.

The Liberal Democrats' champion, Jean Fooks, has decided that she and her colleagues are right and the people they represent are wrong.

Recycling and waste control are without doubt necessary, but not at the expense of hygiene.

I would draw their attention to the report by the British Pest Control Association on the emergence of a super rat as a result of the demise of weekly waste collections.

It says: "We should be concerned with the environment we are creating as a result of these measures and act before we have an insurmountable pest problem leading to a 21st century plague."

I would urge both parties to examine our democratic system and how they are applying it.

H Devonport, Marston, Oxford