Library sell-off is wrong

So the 87-year-old Earl of Dudley, currently based in London, says Dudley Council has his blessing to sell off our local library for social housing (Express & Star, January 8). Well that's OK then, isn't it?

Forget the fact that Woodside Library is a locally listed building and is covered by a deed of covenant.

Forget the fact that in this day and age, when we are constantly told of the importance of learning, we should be encouraging people into libraries not closing them.

London speaks, so it's got to be right, hasn't it?

Surely this has no bearing on the matter anyway, as the land was given to the people of Dudley.

I totally agree with Carl Chinn that selling for housing is almost certainly not what the original Earl of Dudley had in mind all those years ago when he donated the land for a public purpose.

In my opinion, those members of the council who pushed through this decision to close a very valuable part of our community have shown only contempt for the residents here.

I attended the public meeting to discuss this. "Discuss" did I say? That's a joke. Their minds were made up from the start.

As for the councillors who voted through the decision to close our library, I can definitely say that when the time comes, I know where I'll be putting the tick in the box, because they certainly don't have the welfare of our community at heart.

Well, it works both ways. It won't bring back Woodside Library once it's gone but, as they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat!

K Downing,

Stourbridge Road, Dudley.