I WAS wondering if anyone at Darlington Borough Council had thought about approaching the National Trust for help with the preservation and maintenance of the Crown Street Library and the Covered Market?

Wouldn’t the trust be better placed to win lottery funding for these two buildings?

A benefactor, Edward Pease, donated money for the purchase of land and construction of a library which opened in 1885. In 1935 the local authority extended the library.

Darlington Borough Council proposes to sell these buildings and move the service to the Dolphin Centre (D&S Times, Feb 5). The trustees of Edward Pease’s will are likely to have imposed covenants restricting use on the original part of the library.

Consequently the proceeds from any sale are probably going to be very small; if indeed a buyer could be found at all. The consequence of the move is most likely to be the Crown Street Library will be left to fall apart.

Both buildings are listed.

Doncaster has a very successful covered market and so does Newcastle in the Grainger Market. Couldn’t the managers of these two fine institutions be called upon to act in a consultative capacity to help Darlington Covered Market recover some of its vibrant past?

May I remind everyone that in just nine years Darlington will have the eyes of the world upon it, because of the bicentennial of the first passenger railway in 2025. We simply cannot allow the fabric of this beautiful old town to deteriorate just before a major international anniversary of such important historic interest. How will this make us all look before the people of the world if we do?

Nigel Boddy, Darlington