Sir – The latest Government idea of doing away with fines for misuse of rubbish collection could only be suggested by rich people who live in large houses.

For those living in smaller or terrace houses it is a policy guaranteed to harm communities.

One person in a street who leaves out their bins all week or who overfills them and who litters the pavement harms the environment of all their neighbours and negates any idea of a ‘Big Society’ — whatever that is.

I hope our Oxford and Oxfordshire councils have the sense to disobey and that candidates in the upcoming elections will campaign against this strange idea.

Deborah Manley, Oxford