FOR many people who have supported the campaign to keep the library at Crown Street it has been an emotional and exhausting journey trying to change the minds of Darlington Borough Council and convince it not to close the building and destroy this great gift to Darlington.

Now suddenly the town’s MP Jenny Chapman is suggesting that the building be turned into an arts centre (Echo, Apr 26).

Why now and not some time ago when a business case was being prepared and dismissed by the council and we were all turning ourselves inside out to try to save the building?

Has she discussed her ideas with the Library Friends and Darlington for Culture? If not why not?

Where were you Jenny when a thousand people came onto the streets of Darlington to protest against the closure of the building? Why didn’t you support us? Why didn’t you get behind the Friends/Darlington for Culture business case for the library? Where were you Jenny when we addressed cabinet and council meetings? Now with an election in the offing you suddenly come along with a suggestion to turn the building into an arts centre. We had an arts centre and the council closed it. Could history repeat itself because the council keep telling us it has no money?

I think I know the answer to that question.

Alan McNab, Darlington

JENNY CHAPMAN’S plan for the library is the most exciting article I’ve read in The Northern Echo in the past 15 years.This is not a criticism of the paper – it’s just a fact.

The Forum is quite simply unique.

It’s a vibrant hub in the town with a massive fervent heartbeat,with too many things going on for me to mention on here.

Moving to the library in Crown Street could make this place the epicentre of Darlington for years to come.

Please don’t miss the opportunity to support Allison McKay and her team as they pursue this exciting project.

Stuart McKay, Hurworth