COUN Jonathon Seed, Wiltshire Cabinet Member for Libraries, wrote last week that he finds it disappointing that Calne Labour group members have been critical of the council’s plans for our local library.

He avoids responding to any of the key points I made in a letter a week earlier.

Firstly, that Calne library users were not informed of the proposals until they were a fait accompli and work was scheduled to begin.

Secondly, that we believe the plan for additional unstaffed hours will make the library unsafe at these times.

And thirdly, that unstaffed hours will be discriminatory. Under-16s will not be allowed to use the library independently at these times. Elderly, vulnerable and disabled users will be advised not to come to the library when it is unstaffed.

What Jonathon Seed claims as ‘improvements to Calne library’ we see as a dilution in its role as a community library, which we believe should be welcoming to all users whenever it is open.

We strongly believe that a library is much more than just a room with lots of books and we shall continue to campaign for Calne library to be professionally staffed at all times.

JOHN BOALER

Chairman

Calne Branch Labour Party