THERE are rumours that City of York Council plan to raise yet more money from the people of York with a plan to stop skips.

The provision of these skips by the residents association across York at regular periods does much to prevent ugly fly tipping.

Such skips enable local residents to dispose of unwanted items that are not suitable for waste wheelie bins.

Not everyone in York owns a vehicle in which to transport such waste to a council refuse site.

The alternative is to ask the council refuse department to make a special collection to remove the unwanted items from that individual household.

There is a standard charge of £40 for this service which can include up to 10 items during that collection. (Unwanted freezers and fridges have to have a special environmental disposal and cost £25 for each item).

The stopping of skips would therefore provide the council with the potential of extra income.

To me, this will also penalise those on limited incomes.

There can be no doubt that the regular provision of skips helps to keep our beautiful city clean.

Without skips, open areas such as the Hob Moor will rapidly become a dumping ground.

Patricia Palaeologina, Windsor Garth, York.