Following Labour's decision to cancel the green waste bin charges I would like to make the following comments following the article on July 13.

Reading Council is in debt to the tune of £200m. As everyone knows all households are having to make cuts to manage their budgets. This charge equates to just under 44p per week.

Taking into account the time and energy to take garden waste to the tip this is excellent value for money. When letters were sent out asking that people only reply if they did not want to pay the charge only 9% said no. This shows a majority, 91%, in favour of paying for this service and recycling at the same time.

Based on the council's figures of 17,000 users of this service this would have given the council £382,500.

This revenue could have gone towards the cost of essential services but Labour's cancellation will mean cuts elsewhere or an increase in council taxes.

Residents who have a small garden or no garden at all are paying for Labour's cancellation.

Cllr Sandra Vickers

Tilehurst Ward