LAST year, before being elected as Stroud Central district councillor, I wrote to the SNJ about my concerns for our local libraries.

Local council funding was slashed by 40 per cent under the Conservative government between 2015 and 2016, and so it was no surprise that on joining the district council, one of the first plans revealed to me were the plans for Stroud to become a “self-financing” council within the next 18 months.

This means that every public and community service is being scrutinised for ‘value for money’ and revenue potential, placing into severe question the future of the community’s Subscription Rooms and other essential local services.

We are now living in a town that has to operate first and foremost as a business.

Green, Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors are working hard to mitigate the ensuing damage to our priceless community ethos but there is only so much we can do in response to this Conservative agenda to take from those who have least.

This brings me back to my love of libraries – a world away from the hustle and bustle of commercialism and a sanctuary for gentle education, empowering the intellect and hearts of young and old alike.

Funding for public libraries alone has been cut by a staggering £25 million in the last year.

You see, they just don’t make financial sense and yet this is only true if we look at this from a certain distance.

Under the Conservatives we are increasingly living in a ‘price of everything and value of nothing’ society.

If we look from another place it is easy to see that libraries, by providing a place for people to explore their education, their community events and their imaginations, contribute immeasurably to the well-being and therefore the productivity of its users – citizens, workers, mothers, fathers and children.

If we consider the long-term consequences of Conservative policies around local council cuts and library closures, then we will understand that they will lead to impoverished communities which will be ill-equipped to contribute to a growing and prosperous economy.

As councillors, politicians and voters we need to take actions and make decisions that will serve future generations.

Skeena Rathor

District councillor, Stroud Central