THE photograph of Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet agreeing to retain the Crown Street Library (Echo, Sept 12), shows Councillor Nick Wallis in a position of either prayer, texting, sleeping, bewilderment or hanging his head in shame at the manner in which he has constantly addressed the closure of the Darlington Library as being “ necessary to save council spending”.

He has also said, more seriously, that “buildings over 100 years old come to the end of their useful life”. It is unfair to lay all the blame at his feet, but over the past 18 he has been the strongest advocate for the library closure, irrespective of the enormous legal cost with which he has burdened the council and his total disregard for public opinion and public outrage.

I hope his posture is one of reflection and contemplation that in some circumstances the voice of the public (council taxpayers) is one of power.

The Darlington public library will remain as a classic monument to all who cherish our historical wealth and it will be standing long after Cllr Wallis and other councillors (present and past) are no more.

Donald Marshall, Darlington