Anne Snelgrove MP
Working hard for South Swindon
Shirley Burnham
6 Arundel Close
Lawn
Swindon
SN3 1JG
Our Ref: SJB/BURN01009/01081385
07 January 2009
Dear Shirley,
Thank you for writing to me regarding the continued threat to Old Town library. It saddens me to see the effort that has been put into the “Keep Old Town Library open” campaign that I supported being disregarded by the ward councillors. I continue to support the library and the excellent staff as an essential part of the community in Old Town. Local schools continue to use the services and it is a vital centre for the elderly who I know are made welcome and “in touch” whilst they choose their books or use the computer. It is totally unsatisfactory that the highly trained staff in the library could be replaced by volunteers, this is a model that may well work in a rural village but does not reflect the demographics of Old Town.
The huge vote of confidence in Old Town library following the campaign that has been reflected in the increased footfall is surely evidence that the library is vital to the community.
I will be writing to the local councillors and the Lead Member for Culture to re-iterate my continued support and my concerns that the Old Town Library should not be sacrificed to the budget for the new library.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Anne Snelgrove MP
Labour MP for South Swindon
7 Little London Court,
Albert Street, Swindon, SN1 3HY
Tel: 01793 615444 Fax: 01793 644752
annesnelgrovemp@
parliament.uk