Sir – I’m sure Chris Buratta reported faithfully on the Oxfordshire council’s tax cuts (Report, February 15) but, sorry Chris, if they told you that ‘libraries must close’, they didn’t tell the whole truth.
Cuts have to be made: true. Libraries should bear a fair share of the cuts: true. They say that share is £2m: accepted.
However, councillor Mitchell has admitted that there is another option: keep all the libraries open for shorter hours.
He chooses to reject it because of ‘clear professional advice that a uniform cut in opening hours would damage the whole service long term’. I have asked for details of this advice, without any answer so far.
If the disadvantages are serious they should be made known and I shall try to obtain them using the FOI Act. The major advantage of the alternative option is obvious: it keeps open all the libraries and everyone’s hopes for a future recovery. Its advantages and disadvantages must be made known to all in the consultation. Only then shall we be able to respond to it thoughtfully and responsibly.
Geoff Feasey, North Leigh
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