I CAN remember when Darlington had a decent bus station, Football League status, an arts centre and a damned good library in Crown Street.

Today all that is left is the Crown Street library, which most people in the town are proud of. It is a fine purpose-built library and a historical landmark.

People also appreciate the stellar service from the staff which makes it one of the best libraries in the North-East.

Darlington Borough Council think otherwise and want to close it down even though a report commissioned by the council said that Crown Street is “a key part of the identity of Darlington” and is “regionally significant”.

The council’s own survey showed that nine-out-ten people wanted the library to remain in Crown Street.

This is the same council that has lost the deeds for the library and Bennet House, removed the libraries manager in 2011 and put libraries under the Dolphin Centre and Events management. They say that they are strapped for cash yet they have borrowed £20 million for speculative construction projects and spent £7.5m on an over-sized car park.

In the past plans have been put to Darlington Borough Council to save Crown Street Library. The following article appeared on page seven of The Northern Echo on Wednesday, June 1, 2016: “Councillor Wallis confirmed officers were currently studying Darlington for Culture’s detailed and costed plan to save Crown Street library and Cockerton library by establishing a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to run the two libraries in conjunction with the community.

Councillor Wallis was also quoted as saying: “We will look fairly and transparently at the plans and see whether it is possible to save the £330,000 with the library remaining at Crown Street.”

Darlington needs its people to stand together to save our library.

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