Sir – In your coverage of our budget set on Tuesday last, you consistently refer to “20 libraries for closure”. This is simply not true.

Our budget plans for spending cuts to the library service rising to £2m over the next four years are just that — plans to reduce the level of funding. How those cuts are implemented will be subject to an extensive consulation programme. Until that consultation is completed and the responses carefully considered, your reference to “closure” is both inaccurate and unhelpful.

I do not want to see libraries closed and I regret the fact that we cannot afford to maintain the present level of funding. I very much hope local communities will help us to maintain many of these valued local facilities.

Keith R Mitchell, Leader of the council, County Hall, Oxford