I FEEL that I must reply to Cllr William Clarke's letter (SUM, March 11).

Not for the first time Bill has his facts and figures totally wrong but considering he is not a member of the committee it is not surprising.

He states that the libraries were over budget because Labour didn't realise that the roof at Lostock Library was in a state of disrepair - why not? Surely they consulted a building surveyor prior to estimating the costs? - but being Labour perhaps not?

The new roof put Labour's original estimates up by over £70,000 - some roof.

Bill also talks of the growth in library users. What he really means is growth of holders of the new library swipe cards, which when you consider that people entering the sports centres and children at school are being urged to have one of these cards and being free, why not?

I would welcome more use of our libraries by young and old alike but don't give misleading figures to the public. Give them the true figures.

Yes, more people have cards but no more people are using the library service.

Perhaps Cllr Clarke should look to the shortcomings of his own committee and devote his energy to repairing our crumbling road system in Trafford which his Labour party has allowed to fall into a dreadful state of repair. That is what the public know to be a fact.

Cllr John Ackerley, Davyhulme West ward

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