SIR – Threat to Jackmans Library, your piece County Vote to Shut Library (The Comet, July 27) gives the impression that Jackmans Library will close unless North Hertfordshire District Council can confirm it is in a position to proceed with re-developmen

SIR - Threat to Jackmans Library, your piece 'County Vote to Shut Library' (The Comet, July 27) gives the impression that Jackmans Library will close unless North Hertfordshire District Council can confirm it is in a position to proceed with re-development of Ivel Court.

Readers may have been given the impression that this is the reason the library is under threat. While we are willing to work closely with Hertfordshire County Council in any redevelopment scheme your readers should understand that the decision to close the library is one that has been made entirely by Hertfordshire County Council as part of a wider review of their library service.

Councillor T GIBBS

Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Rural Affairs

Accepting risks in the water

SIR - Your whole Last Word column is devoid of anything which could be remotely described as News. You go on to mention an occurrence five years ago, and then another tragedy last year. No way is that news! Come on, The Blue Lagoon has been the subject of various correspondence for as long as I can remember. My family and that of my wife, combined, have been local for over 200 years. We swam in the Blue Lagoon thirty years ago, when there was a derrick of a crane emerging from the depths. One accepts risks, the same as in most walks of life.

Of course there will be accidents. There are accidents somewhere in swimming pools and beaches every day. Are you suggesting that we fill in swimming pools and ban swimming off beaches?

According to your thinking, we should ban everything, just in case someone has an accident.

B J SMITH

Whitehill Road

Hitchin