As ward councillors, we would have been at the forefront of the campaign to save West Barnes library, should there have been even the slightest hint from Merton Council that it was to be replaced with housing.

Fortunately, this is not the case, as a recent letter to your newspaper makes clear (Not closing, September 19).

Our local library is an important and much-valued community facility.

The redevelopment provides an opportunity to secure the library’s long-term future and provide residents with improved services, including a community hall, public toilets and larger library floor space.

Should planning permission be granted, the existing library will, of course, have to close for a time during redevelopment of the site.

It will, therefore, be crucial to ensure that this transition period is managed effectively by Merton Council and local users are not unnecessarily inconvenienced.

We have been questioning council officers in detail about this and are assured that, as far as possible, normal library services will be provided in local locations.

We understand that pop-up libraries are planned for West Barnes during that period.

Of course, this is still some way off yet.

The important thing now is that residents are consulted throughout the process and their voices heard on the shape of their new library.

We would, therefore, like to encourage as many people as possible to respond to the consultation, either on the council website merton.gov.uk or by filling out a questionnaire available at West Barnes or any other Merton library before the October 24 deadline.

COUN BRIAN AND GILLI LEWIS-LAVENDER

Conservative councillors for West Barnes