I had the great pleasure to attend the Cobbett Road Library’s Alice in Wonderland event this morning. This local library is under threat despite only needing £52,000 per year to keep it open. While I understand the need to save money I will never understand why the Labour Council spent £96,000 early this year putting a new heating system into a building it intends to close.

This morning the library was packed with families and local people. We had tea and cake and I was given the honour to present the prizes for best fancy dress costume and best hat.

The library is so much more than a room full of books. It is a community centre and a place where local people meet and feel safe. If this facility closes it will be lost to local groups forever.