THERE has been quite a correspondence, and rightly so, on the prospective green bin charges, and the increase in parking charges.

I assume that most residents will realise that that £35 charge is nothing more than an increase in council tax, a 'rose by another name'. Depending on your council tax band, this is equivalent to an extra one to four per cent increase, over and above the 4.6 per cent addition, which is way above inflation.

Obviously this is less for the higher bands.

The increase in parking charges does not affect those living in Altrincham, but it will affect them going to another part of Trafford. Again this is yet another underhand way of increasing council tax, without directly doing so.

There seems to be little point in trying to attract people to Altrincham by renovating the main road, if you then slap on a large charge for parking: the only beneficiary will be the Trafford Centre.

One can only assume that all this is to pay for the renovation of Stamford New Road. There is now the disruption to pedestrians, while the trees are being planted. Could this not have been done while the footpath was closed before? So much for planning.

The whole project brings to mind two of C.Northcote Parkinson's Laws: (1) Work expands to fill the time needed for completion: (2) People are promoted to a level beyond their capability.

David Olliver, Altrincham