WITH regard to a letter in the Guardian (November 22, Making a noise over new library cost), Ms Harding's figure of £70m for a new library and improvements to the town centre are totally inaccurate and misleading.

The new library will cost the council in the region of £4m. It is an excellent example of a private-public sector partnership.

The main cost of the development will be picked up by commercial and private interests, which will leave the borough's centre with a state-of-the-art library.

There are clearly very difficult decisions being made to resolve the ongoing budgetary problems now facing social services, but they should not be confused with the one-off capital costs of the library.

CLLR ANDREW LOCK,

Cabinet member for

Life Long Learning