SIR, — St Albans District Council has very sensibly delivered the new green recycle boxes to numerous households last week — but they were black, even though specified and depicted as green. This shrewd plan will make numerous people grumble and mildly co

SIR, - St Albans District Council has very sensibly delivered the new green recycle boxes to numerous households last week - but they were black, even though specified and depicted as green. This shrewd plan will make numerous people grumble and mildly complain and detract from the main pending problems of council tax rises and council profligacy.

The next risks to above-inflation rises is the revamping of Verulamium Park, "the consultation fees of which will be paid for out of lottery funds"(actually lottery funds are taxpayers' money). At a time when money is tight, and Central Government aid is reducing, is this really the time for grandiose schemes? The duty of councillors is to the people of St Albans and vital services. And the people of St Albans have definitely not been clamouring in the streets for revamping the already excellent park. The council should bide by the well-known saying and repeat it time and time again: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

P.H. FIELD

St Stephens Avenue, St Albans.