Letter: Cleckheaton Literature Festival was huge success

I will take this opportunity to thank everybody who took part, organised, stewarded and made it such a success.

There was something for all ages, from the first event of Nordic walking through to meet the author, poetry, children’s events, book sales and, of course, the great performance by Andy Kershaw.

The venues were all great and a thank you should go out to them. They were Cleckheaton Library, Whitcliffe Mount School, Matthew’s Coffee House and West End Park. I just hope the weather is better next time so the park can be utilised.

I would also like to point out to our politicians of all parties, especially on Kirklees Council, that this is the sort of thing that our local facilities can be used for. This proved beyond any doubt that closing Cleckheaton Library would be nothing more than a huge mistake.

The success of this festival was helped by having such a fabulous building as Cleckheaton Library. More than one author came out and praised this library and they said of hope that it remains open and where it is.

One author in his talk told of working in Wimbledon, London, in nothing like as big or as good as Cleckheaton Library and a wish to come back – high praise for our library. One last thing, I’d like to praise the staff of the library who were magnificent throughout the festival. There is no doubt in my mind that losing one of them to cuts would be nothing less than gross incompetence by Kirklees Council.

John Alan Ramsden

Carlton Way, Cleckheaton

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