SIR – Barry Mackenzie- Williams invites Labour councillors to “join us and fight for local democracy” (August 8).

That’s a bit rich coming from one of those Tory cabinet members who held secret talks for almost a year with their friends in Malvern Hills about the future of the two councils.

If the Guildhall is, according to Barry, the ‘hub of Worcester’s democracy’ then why did the Tory cabinet move almost all the staff and the customer service centre out into Farrier Street?

And what democratic purpose does this expensive building now serve?

It is not Labour policy to sell the Guildhall.

However, my personal view is that, since most of the big spending decisions affecting the people of our city (schools, highways and public transport) are made at County Hall, leaving the city council responsible, comparatively, for very little, I simply cannot justify holding meetings about wheelie bins, street cleaning, parks and sports centres in the costly Guildhall. County Hall is only two miles from the Guildhall and has superior facilities for meetings, under-used in the evenings.

The Guildhall needs to be properly maintained as a public building of national historic importance.

But why should only Worcester residents have to pay for it?

PAUL DENHAM, City Councillor for Rainbow Hill.