I HAVE been following with interest the plight of Dorset’s county council cutbacks and the threatened withdrawal of funding to 20 of its libraries.

As a frequent user of my local library in Christchurch, my heart goes out to the people who live in the villages and small towns who depend on their libraries, which are now under threat of closure. I would be very sad indeed to lose my library in Christchurch.

As you may be aware Dorset County Council intends to build a £2.5million extension to Christchurch Library.

I believe this is an extravagance too far, particularly in the present financial climate, when many other libraries are threatened with closure. This money should be used to keep the whole library service operating, rather than going to one specific library.

The extension has been the subject of much debate in Christchurch for some time, with many residents objecting to the councils plans to extend the library into the neighbouring cafe, Kelly’s Kitchen.

I recently visited Kelly’s Kitchen and spoke to the owners of the business. They informed me that the county council has its planning permission in place and they had been informed by the council that it was intended to go ahead with the project, despite the cuts.

I was also informed that the new larger library will cost £10,000 a year more to run in light, heating and rates, in addition to the rental loss from the cafe, estimated to be £40,0000 a year.

If this information is correct it would mean an overall increased cost of £50,000 a year for the library, which would be funded by Dorset County Council, when others are having funding withdrawn.

This is simply not fair.

Although I look forward to an improved library service for Christchurch in the future, I believe the future of all the county council libraries to be of more importance.

PJ GOLDNEY, Wayside Road, Bournemouth