Hands off our libraries

ONE of the most precious gifts we have is the ability to read. And to have books to read.

Libraries are one of our most precious assets. In the 19th century, reading rooms were set up by ordinary men and women. These were accompanied by the well known Carnegie libraries.

Clearly, these pleasures are to be denied in the interest of “savings”. How can one make savings on pleasures, joys, information and education?

Recently I posed to my MP the question – libraries or Libya? At a cost of £2bn, war won. As always, the money is there. It is a question of what our money is being spent on.

Signs of trouble with transport

From: Andrew Mercer, Oxford Road, Guiseley.

WELL done, Leeds Council. It spent thousands installing new traffic warning signs on the approach into the city centre.

What was the point? Motorists sit for ages on roads like the A65, finally reach these signs which could warn of delays – and then find they’re used to notify drivers of events like Jimmy Savile’s funeral or fireworks in Roundhay Park. I had to laugh when the council’s top brass went to London to look at how to promote Leeds.

Let me give them some advice for free: new businesses and such will not relocate here until the city’s chronic transport difficulties are tackled.

£3bn waste

From: Coun James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council.

BOTH the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said in their coalition agreement: “We will stop the top-down reorganisations of the NHS.”

Instead they are progressing with a top-down reorganisation that will see privatisation of the NHS and cost to the taxpayer of £3bn for the privilege.

Surely this funding would be better spent towards patient care or reducing the deficit? Conservatives and Liberal Democrats call Labour deficit deniers yet they can find £3bn to waste destroying the NHS.