ALTHOUGH not a direct descendant of the Edward Pease whose legacy gave the library to the town of Darlington, I am a direct descendant of that Edward Pease’s great, great grandfather Edward Pease, who was born in 1711.

However, I have had many years connection with the town and its facilities during my time running the family wine business T Pease, Son and Company founded in 1808 and run by me from 1957 until closing in Darlington in 1980.

During that time I witnessed many changes to the town centre, many carried out in a draconian manner without consultation with the current inhabitants or those interested in the architecture of the area.

As a member of the family, I feel strongly that it would be quite wrong to remove the Edward Pease library that was a gift to the town in part for the further education of residents who at that time were unable to afford what education was available, as well as for the general convenience of the townspeople.

The Pease family during their more prosperous times have been extremely generous benefactors to the town and I feel it is the height of ingratitude for current administrators to remove facilities gifted in the past in perpetuity for the welfare of the people of Darlington.

RS Pease, Gainford

IT would be an absolute tragedy if Darlington Borough Council were to close the Crown Street Library building.

It will be another blow to preserving the heritage of the borough.

The Crown Street building defines us as a civilised society with people reaching out to better themselves. The Pease family recognised this when they gave this gift to the people of Darlington.

More worrying is the statement from Councillor Nick Wallis: “Public buildings rarely last more than 150 years and we have taken the library at Crown Street as far as we can go. It no longer meets a need as it used to.”

That is nonsense.

There are many public buildings which are more than 150 years old which still fulfil their functions. The Guildhall in York was built in the 15th Century and is still used for council meetings.

Durham Town Hall dates back to the 14th Century and is still used for events.

Is he suggesting that public buildings should be boarded up and sold off after 150 years of service?

Crown Street Library houses the adults and children’s lending library, the reference library, the local studies centre and the art gallery – all under one roof. The council has not said where these services, other than the lending library, will go if the library is relocated to the Dolphin Centre. That is no way to make public policy.

There has to be certainty where all the services will go.

Crown Street Library does meet the needs of the people of Darlington which has been clearly expressed in the recent public consultations by the council and the Friends of the Library.

Alan Macnab, Darlington