TOMORROW the Council’s executive has a difficult decision to make: Will they close a third of Bolton’s libraries?

Local libraries make it easier to gain access — not just to books, but to provide safe havens for children, enable pupils’ study and help the retired and the unemployed.

They offer a range of community information for all needs. They foster important opportunities for social interaction and networking.

In the greater context of the need to build vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods and in town planning terms, a local library is a keystone amongst neighbourhood amenities.

Unlike shops, these are council-sponsored amenities. But once lost, it is another nail in the coffin of the flagging vitality of our neighbourhood centres.

Our councillors need to reflect on what libraries provide and mean to communities: to reflect on what their loss would really mean to quality of life — especially in these times. Library closures would be a kick in the teeth for some socially deprived areas.

The Civic Trust has written to the Chief Executive, and to all council leaders, a fivepage letter laying out detailed arguments and backed by planning and economic analysis, in many respects superior to Bolton Council’s own.

The trust was right about the impact of Middlebrook on the town centre and also the impact of the Market Hall closure. We fear the council is now to be complicit in helping to cripple some of our neighbourhoods. We urge the council to think carefully.

Brian H Tetlow Chairman Bolton & District Civic Trust