Start again on library

It looks like Wellington City Council’s plans to build a library for twice the cost but half the quality of Christchurch’s wonderful new library are still on track.

The unsightly reinforcement works needed to ‘‘restore’’ the derelict old library to earthquake standards are likely to disappoint heritage supporters. But any semblance of heritage would surely go out of the window by the latest proposals to add more levels to the building (Residential tower on list for library, April 10). In the unlikely event this bizarre makeshift approach is carried through, it almost certainly would not meet the expectations of library users, tenants or ratepayers.

It remains evident that a new purposebuilt library based on Christchurch’s experience would best meet the needs of present and future users at a reasonable cost. Should the idea of ‘‘optimising’’ the site gain support, however, the separate and distinct needs of library users and residents could be met by a well-designed new building. And either option could be enhanced by the retention of the iconic nikau palms.

If any ratepayers think the council’s current library deliberations are on track to produce an optimum result, they are sorely and sadly mistaken.

Michael Chilton, Khandallah