I FULLY support the campaign to keep open the libraries and museums currently run by Herefordshire Council.

As always, I will be joining the members of Unison on the picket lines when they strike – the only councillor who ever does.

I am against the loss of any jobs within the library and museum services and will do whatever I can to ensure that Herefordshire has a library and museum fit for purpose in the 21century.

However, I find it unedifying to read so many letters and emails, about the redundancies in the library and museum services, but no mention by their authors of the 140 redundancies proposed from people’s services, most of who are seconded to the Wye Valley NHS Trust.

There appears to be a certain middle class snobbery that not one person has mentioned that the loss of 140 jobs will affect the lives of the most vulnerable in our county, the elderly and infirm, children who are abused, and people with learning disabilities, women suffering domestic violence. This is a damming indictment against those who write letters in support of one group of workers while leaving another 240, there is a proposal for redundancies in IT, Communications, etc, without public recognition of their plight.

Cultural services are important but not as much as people. The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of humanity.

I know I am not the only councillor who thinks this, just the first to have the courage to say so.

CHRIS CHAPPELL, St Martins and Hinton Ward, Herefordshire Council.