Sir, - Councils are always putting out good news stories giving the impression that everything is hunky dory down at the Town Hall. Not so at Redcar and Cleveland Council. If members of the public had been at the last full council meeting they would have witnessed what is fair, right and democratic being trampled under foot.

In reality, the new constitution is not what we were led to believe. The council as a whole used to have the final say, now the decisions of the elite executive cannot be changed, even if the majority of the council disagrees.

Questions can be asked, but if the lead councillor chooses he "could or could not answer the question in whatever way he wanted", so a direct question does not have to get a direct answer.

The fact is 10 councillors make all the decisions, questions can be dodged and legitimate issues ignored. Is this really democratic, fair or what electors voted for?

No, irrelevant to who is in power there has to be opposition, otherwise we get what we have now, a majority party, in this case Labour, that is power mad, determined to stop debate or dissent.

A four-year dictatorship is wrong and whatever the Labour Party says, that is what it is.

Coun BARBARA HARPHAM

Westgate,

Guisborough.

Never too old

Sir, - What a good article about bellringing at St Cuthbert's church, Darlington (D&S, May 24).

To be world class at any activity you do probably need to start as a teenager or earlier. However if we learnt nothing new after our teenage years what a sad world it would be.

At Stokesley Parish Church we have a very good team of bellringers. Some of us learnt as teenagers but most did not start until much later in life, certainly the wrong side of 30.

Last year I was approached by five members of the Trefoil Guild (people who have been Scout and Guide leaders) who had been set a challenge to learn a new skill. They wanted to have a go at bellringing.

They have been learning for about a year and they can now all ring a bell with confidence and are valuable members of our Sunday band. They have all celebrated their 50th birthday.

Teenagers certainly do learn much more quickly, but they often leave just as quickly for many different reasons. Older recruits do take longer to learn and may never reach the heights of a good teenager, but they are often a much better long term bet.

So if you would like to have a go at bellringing, don't be put off if you are over 30.

JOHN HALLETT

Tower Captain,

Stokesley Parish Church.

Spare Wembley

Sir, - I refer to Spectator's suggestion (D&S, May 24)that a follow-up series of the revived Auf Wiedersehen Pet! be based upon the gang being let loose on Wembley Stadium following their demolition of the Transporter bridge.

This would be a shame as the stadium is an elegant building and should be kept for other uses. An even better building in the London area to be tackled would be the Dome. The comic possibilities are endless.

JUDITH COOK,

Saltburn.