I just could not believe an Adur councillor - and a leader at that - would write (Letters, November 3) that, because the Tories plus the two beach residents are the majority party on Adur District Council, the Labour and Liberal members should not have their opinions heard.

I watch Parliament on TV quite a lot during each week and the opposition always get a fair hearing in the debates. That is democracy, Mr Parkin. Stopping the opposition from asking questions and gagging them only adds to your arrogance, especially when you say that they can huff and puff all they want because they will not be taken any notice of.

So what kind of chairman allows this to happen? Quite frankly, I think the Tories are out of their depth because they just do not know how scrutiny committees work.

-Mrs Jean White, Old Salts Farm Road, Lancing