WHAT a pity it was that yesterday, the day the Christmas season officially kicked off in Oxford, we learnt of yet more cuts to council services.

Oxfordshire County Council unveiled what will prove to be among the most contentious cuts with 20 libraries and 20 youth centres under threat. And the city council announced £10m in savings, which will see around 100 jobs go, community grants cut, prices hiked for car parking and even bowls clubs left to mow their own grass. Merry Christmas.

But, as we have said before, both authorities are in an invidious position. There is simply not enough money to pay for what they used to.

However, relying on David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ scheme to keep anything like most of the libraries and youth centres open will likely prove a fallacy. For Big Society read authorities hoping someone else can be bothered to provide what they used to.

County leader Keith Mitchell is correct in that libraries are one of the most ‘loved’ of the services provided. And, despite denials, it is a concern of the effect on childhood literacy – so appallingly low already – closing libraries will have.

A few good spirited community stalwarts will endeavour to save their libraries.

We just hope the city council is not pinning its hopes on companies putting their logos on the side of dog pooh bins to raise funds.