I AM dismayed at the basic concept of the shortlist of entries for the new Ledbury Library/St Katherine’s Design Competition. All three have attractive buildings and well thought-out usage spaces but they all fail to fit the criteria that the Ledbury community established during the consultation phase.

There is a significant change to the overall concept. What has happened to the policy of attracting the public into this facility by creating strong links between the High Street, St Katherine’s, the Old Barn and the new library? We were expecting to have an immediate impact on the access from the High Street – a glass-covered walkway was envisaged.

What happened to the cluster of buildings all closely linked together by attractive and useful covered areas that became part of the buildings?

Who agreed to the loss of 70-plus car parking spaces? Originally we were informed that this would be about 10 to 12.

Why do we have large garden areas requiring high security and maintenance? What happened to the covered courtyards of the original scheme?

What has happened to the commercial opportunities to earn income from and for the facility? It appears to be 100 per cent public service – ie it will cost us even more money to run.

As a resident of Ledbury I consider that the three shortlisted designs do not fit the criteria that the local community had accepted as a satisfactory approach. Indeed, most people were quite excited with the concepts as presented at the preliminary consultations.

It appears that some decisions have been taken that completely change how the new library will fit into our community.

Who made these decisions and who gave them authority to ignore the outcome of the local consultations? Do they have a mandate from the Ledbury community?

This is one of the more important developments to take place in Ledbury for many years.

The town council and our local Herefordshire councillors must have views on these changes.

If the consultation process, past and current, is to be a meaningful exercise then what steps can be taken to review the appointment process to ensure that the community obtains what it asked for?

IAN STODDART, Frost Road, Ledbury