I feel I must write regarding Coun Di Rayner's comments about parking charges: "You can either have high council tax and free parking or high parking charges and lower council tax" (Malvern Gazette, March 17).

What a negative attitude. How about a response based on the following: "It is our intention to abolish all parking charges for Malvern. As a forward-thinking council, we recognise the very real need to encourage shoppers to our town. Just imagine, if Tesco started charging for parking and Morrisons didn't, where would you be inclined to shop? We also recognise that local businesses contribute an enormous amount in council tax and we must do everything within our power to help their businesses to thrive.

"We have to take a good hard look at what we as a council can do to reduce waste, let us look at our own costs, are we really giving value for money? As the leader of the council I will make it my business to find out for myself what is going on, without the help of expensive consultants. Who knows, with a bit of clever management we may even be able to reduce the council tax burden for next year."

That is the sort of response we require from all of our council leaders at both district and county level.

Every day we witness waste, drive your car past any set of road works. When did you last see everybody gainfully employed? Business owners would not put up with it, so why should council tax-payers?

M R Farr, Cowleigh Bank Malvern.