IT is an embarrassing situation that the children of our town, not to mention the vulnerable residents who may not be able to access Internet/books and so on in any other way, are being denied the use of Central Library, particularly at a time when they should be encouraged more than ever about the importance and enjoyment that books and libraries can bring.


I emailed the council earlier in the year about the situation but received a pretty generic response, and it simply isn’t good enough to be told “you can go to any other library”.


Well, yes of course, but for those of us relatively close to the town centre, this has always been the most suitable and appropriate one for us as a family, plus it’s besides the point anyway – there should be a library hub in the town centre, just as there is in every other major town or city in the north west.


The council was quick to blow the trumpet and celebrate “cultural” activities and events for the150th anniversary of St Helens becoming a municipal borough. And yet it seems so reluctant to do anything about a culturally important resource like a public library.


I do not believe that the council are being up front about the real reason it has (and still is) taking so long to resolve the situation.
I have heard councillors talking the talk and putting forward suggestions about relocating the library to the World of Glass building or St Mary’s Market – but nothing ever happens.


It must be nearly two years since the building closed and still nothing seems close to being sorted. It just seems to be all talk, is it any wonder that residents are so disillusioned with the council when they seem to constantly fail to follow up their words with actions.


As a cynic, I question whether the council has any intention at all of reopening the facility.


I believe it is a cost-cutting exercise to keep it closed for as long as possible and hope that the residents give up on any hope of it being reinvented.


I have emailed my MP with my feelings on the situation but I have little hope of any new information.


Name and address submitted