I WISH to draw attention to the imminent review of the provision of library services in the county.

The proposals for change mean that rural library services will be drastically reduced and buildings closed. I understand that a petition is being presented to the county council which will require the council to conduct a public review of their proposals.

County council taxpayers may not be aware that Robert Gould, a councillor for both West Dorset District Council and the county council, is the principal mover of a scheme to build a new municipal headquarters for the district council, which will include the provision of a new library for the county council at a rent of £200,000 a year indefinitely!

How can Mr Gould wear two hats and claim to represent the interest of both parties? Even if he could, the public perception will still question where his prime interest lies.

Most taxpayers recognise that with the reduction in central government funding that economies have to be made.

Let us hear from councillors of their other plans for deficit reduction to enable county council taxpayers to make informed decisions of priority in the services provided.

Roy Roberts, Okeford Fitzpaine

ONCE upon a time there was a little girl named Lily. Lily longed to read, to read properly. She could read "open", "shut" and "bus stop" and other words, but she longed to read real books from the library.

Lily tried so hard to read and slowly, slowly the magic began to happen. Then, it seemed quite suddenly she could read!The words in her nursery rhyme book matched the words she knew in her head and had learnt from her big sister.

Lily described how every night when she went to bed she read her story book until she felt sleepy. When she looked on the computer or at stuff on television Lily said "it is all there", but when Lily read a book she said "my imagination can go flying away anywhere I want, it just doesn't happen with computers or television".

Our children need to be able to experience the joy of books and the enthusiasm of our skilled librarians.

Mere library is described as a "shining example of what a library should be". Its doors must continue to be kept open for access by everyone to this wonderful resource and matchless professional service which, in the big picture of the Big Sociey, cost so little.

Rachel Hyde, Mere

THANK you for keeping the subject of library closures in the public domain, and keeping us advised of the ever changing scene in other counties, namely Wiltshire and Somerset, where already we are seeing changes in county council policy because of consultation with library users and pressures from local people.

As your reporter points out, Somerset has made an initial reprieve of nine libraries, while Wiltshire has publicly stated that it will retain all its 31 libraries with cuts spread across the whole county in the form of reduced public opening hours.

Dorset is still claiming to close 20 of its smaller libraries, some purpose built and many important hubs of local rural and urban communities.

A letter in last week's BMV from a reader offering his help as a volunteer to the Dorset Library Headquarters was met with the reply that there are no plans to have volunteer-supported sessions or seek volunteers. I find this strange when there is in the public domain proposals as to how the "closed 20 libraries" might seek alternative status.

I should point out, however, that these options suggest that communities run the libraries themselves with no funding, no professional staff, no ongoing book fund, some residual books from their already stocked library, some furniture and shelves, no computers for public use, no connection to the Central Library Computer system, and they could be a drop off and collection point for books ordered on line or by phone from the central register.

It seems that the expensive self-service equipment would be taken out, arrangements will be made about the buildings, which in many cases do belong to the county service, but not all. Sherborne is in fact administered as trustees by Sherborne Town Council and supplied rent free to Dorset County Council who is responsible for maintenence, while Puddletown's library is the village hall.

Another thing the library service do propose is an initial training period for volunteers, but volunteers would also presumably be responsible for their own police and health and safety checks.

Without professional leadership, and that means paid staff, we will not have libraries. Today most charity shops have paid managers. Maybe last week's correspondent will hear from Dorset County Council in the future?

Ailsa Royston. Sherborne

REFERRING to Andy Newton's interesting letter (BVM 28th January) calling for a jury of peers for vetting climate change deniers' letters prior to publication, I see that Mappowder Court near Sturminster Newton is up for sale at £7.5 million. Perhaps this would be a suitably dignified location in the heart of denier country at which to set up a scientific discussion chamber for exposure and even committal of unrepentant deniers. Whilst that court of climate scientists would occupy a major part of this magnificent C18th mansion, there would also be space for other chambers suited to the hearing of snake oil sellers, EEC-denouncers and other misguided souls of that ilk. The associated outbuildings, stabling, acreage (680) and farming facilities offer excellent prospects for housing of eccentric delinquents during their periods of work on the land and repentance. I am sure that both BVM readers and their descendants would benefit from publication of Mappowder Court's findings and welcome news of any successful conversions. I would wish the project every success.

David Boswell, Tarrant Gunville

FOLLOWING on from the letters that appeared in last week's edition of the Blackmore Vale and the determination of Dorset County Council to build a travellers' site on land that they themselves have identified as being reserved for the Shaftesbury by-pass, isn't it ironic that they ask you to publish in the same edition an article about their wish for people to help shape the future of transport across the whole county?

Also today, DCC's publication "Your Dorset" came through the letterbox and contained a similar article that stated, "We're keen for people to let us know their views as the final strategy will form the basis for transport planning in the area over the next two decades."

I would encourage you all to let them know your thoughts, but as can be with regard to the proposed travellers'

site at Shaftesbury, DCC will ignore your comments but will say that they have "consulted" and that will make it all right!So much for the Big Society!!

Anne Kaile, Melbury Abbas

I UNDERSTAND that North Dorset District Council acts in the interests of the local people, and also runs as a democracy. I am therefore completely at a loss as to why they are steam-rollering through the planning for the travellers' site in Shaftesbury.

They have produced scant evidence of support from the New Age travelling community in the face of massive public objection; they have brushed aside the interests of the people of Melbury and surrounding villages that the A350 bypass corridor affects and the consultation afforded to the residents of New Lane has been no more than "box ticking".

We now find out that the planning decision may be passed to delegated powers – an act that bypasses the planning committee and so the decision is made "in house" – Dorset County Council applying to themselves without having a full public committee would be unjust.

This is most certainly not a democracy and not in the interests of the people of North Dorset and Shaftesbury.

Adam Franklin

Shaftesbury

READERS may be interested to know that Shaftesbury Civic Society is hosting an exciting presentation that will show how the concepts of a new public arts and environmental commission for the town are moving a step forward.

Did you attend the public consultation day that was held on The Commons in the town centre in September? Did you read the report in the BVM shortly afterwards? This showed great public support and enthusiasm for art in the public realm. The presentation will afford an opportunity to see how things have progressed. Even if you did neither we are sure you will find it well worthwhile.

Artists Simon Pirie and Adam Zombory-Moldovan want to create something the town can be proud of, that will be useful as a focal point, meeting place, trading post, performance area or just a place to sit and people watch.

They will be delivering their design ideas for the Wide Open Spaces commission on Wednesday 9th February in Shaftesbury Arts Centre 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm. There is an open invitation to everyone to come along.

Jan Scott, secretary, Shaftesbury Civic Society

I WOULD like to acknowledge the generosity of the residents in Bourton, Gillingham, Mere, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, and Zeals in supporting our Father Christmas float in December. I am delighted to say that, despite the weather curtailing some of our visits, we still raised nearly £3,000 for our charity account.

In writing I would also like to praise the efforts of all the friends of our small club who volunteered their time, often in dreadful conditions, to ensure Father Christmas visited as many children in our area.

So many people tell us that the Lions' Christmas Float is a tradition they look forward to and we were disappointed to let some down this year.

Being a small club, we welcome potential new members from all walks of life who would like to serve their community.

We are not business-related, just a group of like-minded people who enjoy being part of the largest service organisation in the world with over 1.3 million members in 206 countries.

Anyone interested in joining us can call Deborah Clarke on 01747 854537.

David Taylor, vice president

Lions Club of Gillingham, Mere & Shaftesbury

I AGREE with Mr A Newton (BVM 28th January) but from a different angle.

I wish to see an end to the pointless drivel from climate change supporters.

It is very sad that they cannot see the only reason governments are pushing the climate change policy is because they have run out of ways of taxing us.

Climate goes in cycles, always has done and always will.

Philip M Smith, Milborne St.Andrew

IN response to Andy Newton's letter on climate change may I say that I totally agree with him. The climate is changing and anyone who denies this is simply living on a different planet.

However, such changes have not been caused by man (apart from incidents such as the recent flooding in Brisbane, caused by inappropriate operation of a dam) and nor will man be able to do anything about altering the changes which are upon us.

Since most people seem to believe in adaptation of the species, we must therefore adapt and that means building nuclear power stations, keeping the coal fired ones working (as the Germans are doing) and dispensing with the stupidity of electricity being generated by ineffective wind turbines which don't work when they are most needed.

The only thing worse than bad science is lying and promoting fear to control people and make large profits for a small group of people at the expense of the poorest members of society, when good science can resolve most of the issues at hand.

Peter Watson Hinton St Mary

A SOLAR village display on 24 acres of good agriculture land is perfectly okay according to the global warming lobby. But if you were to ask for a 24-acre polytunnel array on the same site for a couple of years you would be laughed out of the council office – although polytunnels would be for food production. Talk about a one-sided argument on this issue. All it's about is making money on the back of the global warming scam leaped on by the energy companies and we are the silly fools having to pay with over hyped power supplies and future blackouts. If it was for wind mills you'd all be out with your placards demanding that it be stopped but not for this blight that will last for 25 years. Plant a few trees instead.

Steve Kelly, Blandford

AS an occasional reader, I have seen correspondence about the cost of 0845 phone numbers. If you have web access, go to saynoto0870.com where, by entering an 0844, 0845, 0870 or 0871 number in the box provided, you can find an alternative 01/02/03 number to get you to the same company. I use this method for 90% of such numbers. Depending on your phone contract, you may even be able to make these calls free.

Keith Orchard in Warwick

I WANTED to write and pose a question about the local hunt supporters. I'm sitting here in Yenston this afternoon and the local hunt is riding out. So far we've had about 50 horses pass my lounge window several times. On the whole, it's nice to see the horses in the village.

What I completely fail to understand are the hunt supporters who are following on quad bikes and 4x4 vehicles. Why do they race though traffic lights and drive around the village like maniacs.

For example, I've just watched a chap on a quad bike leave the main road in the village and charge up a side lane without looking or demonstrating any sort of care.

It's only a matter of time before they hit one of the children in the village, or someone else.

Richard Russell, Yenston