As a regular user of Hove Library and a member of the all-party Hove Library Working Group, I wish to reassure Julie Burchill that our concerns about access issues at the Church Road premises are not cynical but practical (Letters, December 1).

All councils have to ensure physical and sensory barriers are removed to allow access for all to council services in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Access to the library can also be a problem for many elderly people and for parents with young children in buggies or prams.

Surely Miss Burchill would agree it is the responsibility of any civilised society to ensure those people have the same opportunities as the majority? Currently there is no disabled access upstairs to the reference and music sections.

One problem is fitting a modern lift into such an old building, which will inevitably cut the space available for books and study.

Other problems include inadequate space for books, study and public events. There are also issues of maintaining good security in a building that has seven separate public areas on two floors.

The council understands the strength of public opinion on this issue but recognises the problems in modernising the service to ensure everyone can access the library.

That is why the working group is examining all the evidence and options available before making any recommendations.

I would welcome the suggestions of residents, including Miss Burchill, which can be posted to me at King's House, Grand Avenue, Hove BN3 2LS or emailed to craig.turton@brighton-hove.gov.uk

-Councillor Craig Turton (Labour), East Brighton Ward