LAST Wednesday afternoon, I went to the library at the World Of Glass and found it was closed.

Apparently, all libraries in St Helens are closed on Wednesday afternoon. Indeed, ALL other libraries (with the exception of St Helens and Newton-le-Willows) are closed all day on Wednesday.

Surely even this Labour-run council could devise a system that ensured there would be a staggered arrangement of opening times to ensure that a library somewhere in St Helens would be open on different days during the week?

It seems they have imposed a system that suits their needs and not those of the public they are supposed to be working for.

This is back-to-front thinking and the council should give it some urgent attention.

This is the same ‘caring council’ that has just imposed a 4.99% increase in council tax at the same time as they voted to trouser a 10.58% increase in their basic allowances - this is more than double the rate of inflation.

How many of us will receive a 10.58% increase in our pension or wages? Not very many, I’d suggest.

At least the Independent councillor James Tasker had the good grace to say it wasn’t the right time for a rise “when we are cutting essential services”, closing libraries, etc.

Disgruntled ratepayer