We are told the council is committed to reducing traffic on York's roads. We hear that the number of elderly people in the population is rising. Our children have recently been subjected to a daily 'literacy hour'. So what does the council suggest doing in its latest 'shake-up'? They seek to close branch libraries.

Just when the shops have realised they will have to move out of town to enable customers to reach them, the council thinks we will flock to the city centre with heavy bags of books and on public transport with toddlers in hand.

York is fortunate in its provision of local libraries. These buildings house meeting rooms, IT access, activity groups, information points and videos and tapes. Should they be closed and sold off we shall never again afford to replace them. Local shops have closed, many churches are in decline, so in many communities pubs and libraries are the only meeting places. They are the heart of the local community.

The council suggests housing library facilities in sports centres, youth clubs or museums. In our area we have no youth club or museum. Presumably the library would move to Oaklands Sports Centre. This would entail massive refurbishment at great cost and a reduction of sports facilities and consequently of income.

I urge York citizens to voice their objections to these plans. They should write to Charlie Croft, acting director of leisure services at 18 Back Swinegate.

E A Nicholson,

Lycett Road,

Dringhouses,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.