COCKERTON library, in Darlington, is an important community facility which should operate as a central meeting place with a cafe, information centre and internet access plus, of course, a facility for lending books.

The building could be leased to a local community group or charity which could fund raise in the area and assemble volunteers to help with the various activities.

The charitable trust approach has been successfully adopted elsewhere in England and thus could be considered in Darlington.

Joanna Bussell, Darlington.

A GREAT deal of effort is being put into saving the football club, which gives pleasure to some 1,600 people for 26 or so meetings in a year, whereas the local councillors for Cockerton West and the MP for Darlington deem the interests of many thousands over 365 days a year to count for nothing.

Much press coverage has been given to the involvement of Jenny Chapman MP with regard to the football club but when it comes to the needs of children, parents and older residents of the town who use Cockerton library there is a deafening silence.

Our two ward councillors, Jan Cossims and David Regan, appear to be just as mute on the matter, having to toe the party line rather than support those who elected them to be their representatives on the borough council.

Cockerton library serves a much larger area than the ward, as it provides suitable parking for those for whom mobility is a problem. The Crown Street library cannot be accessed by such users hence the need to retain Cockerton is essential.

National literary standards in schools are deemed to be falling.

Cockerton library provides a much needed stimulus to pupils from the local schools who pay regular visits. Closure of the library will retard development of reading skills, for many of the children will not be able to access books to the same degree they presently enjoy.

Brian Jefferson, Darlington.