IN 1857 our ancestors thought it was a good idea to house the library and the museum in the same building.

In 2012 our councillors thought it was a good idea to cut the ties between the library and museum by forming Culture Warrington to manage the museum, art gallery and theatres and entrusting the future of the library service to a sports and leisure organisation called Livewire.

Now the latest plan from Culture Warrington/LiveWire is to eject the library from its historic location and move it to premises a third of the size in an ex-shoe shop in Golden Square (plans withdrawn but not forgotten).

WBC thought that a leisure/ lifestyle company would be better qualified than themselves or a cultural organisation to manage our library service.

Would you want a librarian to rescue you from drowning in a swimming pool or an aerobics instructor to tell you who wrote Animal Farm and order you a copy?

George Orwell’s themes are coming to life in Warrington today.

In future you won’t visit a library, you will visit a hub or a wellbeing centre, where if you are very lucky you might have a few bookshelves/ computers.

You will believe that lots of small areas/ex-broom cupboards or ‘library offers’, in places inaccessible by public transport, are a good idea.

Who needs a library in a central location?

Did you ask for a heritage hub?

If so don’t you think it should share the space with the whole of the library and the museum?

Why spend money re-furbishing Funky Dory when it would be more cost effective to reorganise the existing building?

On Monday, December 5 there will be a full council meeting in the Town Hall where the library service will be on the agenda.

I think all residents should attend to watch democracy in action.

Remember, if you disagree with your councillor’s views on the future of Warrington and the library service in particular, they will be up for re-election at some point.

JANE FORSHAW Penketh