Little choice but to close

She ignores the fact the public use of all libraries, including East Herrington Library, had fallen dramatically.

As a St Chad’s councillor believe me closing a local asset is not what I or any councillor wanted but considering the brutal Government cuts, which totalled £207million and a further £45million this year, what would Ms Crosby have done?

Before the closure of nine library buildings, library services were delivered from 20 libraries across the city.

Now people can borrow books and access other services from 96 community venues, as well as the 11 remaining libraries. The number of books being issued has also risen from 673,568 last year to 689,683 this year.

Now I have no idea what M Crosby reads but suggest she visits Sunderland City Council website to get her facts right.

Personally, I am an avid reader, love books especially of a historically nature but I use a Kindle not a local library.

East Herrington Library building is a city asset which was placed on the market for disposal. My ward colleagues and I objected to its disposal as a Fast Food outlet.

Fortunately, it has gone through due legal process and the purchaser has obtained planning approval for five properties. As with most developments there are objectors. The Planning Officer took into account the objectors comments, however, the officers recommendation was to approve.

I recall last year’s St Chad’s local elections where Margaret Gillian Crosby, Liberal Democrat received 171 votes (3.72%) from 4,595 cast. Can it be that M Crosby, secretary of the East Herrington Liberal Party’s letter is not about library closures but more about scoring political points?

Stuart Porthouse,

Councillor St Chad’s ward