FIRST of all can I thank Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for listening to the community of Loftus and saving our library in its existing building, even though we have lost opening hours.
However, I am dismayed to find they are not listening to the voices in the community as regards opening hours.
We were asked to get as many groups/activities meeting in the library, which we have done. The council in their wisdom have decided that the library will not open one late night a week, (hardly late at 6pm), when people who work and children would be able to use the library. They also have decided to close on a Thursday, absolute madness!
This is the busiest day in the week for Loftus Library. They have also decided that the library will not open until 10am, three days a week, instead of 9 am, as at present.
But 9am is one of the busiest times in the library when the computers are used by people trying to access job vacancies.
I have sent the council a few different opening hours that would work in the 31 hours that we have been allocated, but to date the scenario above has not changed.
I can only think that we won the battle for the library, but the council would like the footfall to drop so we would then have closure by stealth.
A library in my opinion works for the community and as such should serve it as they want.
Carol Clifford, Loftus
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