I WAS one of those in attendance at the storming of Malpas library on Tuesday afternoon along with some 50 equally irate residents.

It was, to say the least, a difficult meeting for the two sacrificial lambs who struggled to keep order.

That they managed to do so, even to some small degree, owed nothing to the totally ineffectual ward councillors who hovered and bleated on the periphery.

We were angry – incandes-cent in fact – at a council that threatens the future of one of the most successful libraries in this so-called city with little or no public consultation, that disregards its higher footfall and popularity in favour of making some derisory short-term financial saving.

A council, moreover, that did not bother to send any of its relevant committee members to the meeting, so dead set are they to steamroller their half-baked, apocalyptic policies over all reasonable and articulate opposition.

Malpas residents are entitled to and, indeed, demand a true public meeting, including members of the offending committee, although whether the powers that be will feel inclined to grant one is a matter of dubious conjecture. And, of course, should our library bite the dust, how long will it be before similar amenities throughout Newport follow suit in a frantic effort to balance the books?

The word that springs to mind and, indeed, one used frequently on Tuesday, is Philistine!

Julian R Powell, Larch Grove, Malpas, Newport