I read with interest the article about South Chingford Volunteer Library which may have to close due to lack of funds and I feel so strongly about this issue that I felt compelled to comment.

For years the council provided libraries and people were employed to work in them. With the cuts people lost their jobs. I know some people who were made redundant from the libraries who are still unemployed.

I appreciate these volunteers think they are doing good for the communities and have been hoodwinked by the government to think they are part of the big society. However people need jobs and not everyone can afford to work for free.

If people volunteer to work for free in jobs that previously had a salary there will be more unemployed people. These people and others see those that then offer to do their jobs for free as job thieves.

Volunteers are very lucky if they can afford to work for free but no doubt at some time in their lives they have needed paid employment. I suggest they have a think about how they would have felt if someone had come along and said to their employer 'you don't need to employ this person any longer I'll do their job for free!'

Therefore I suggest if they want to do good for the community they spend their time campaigning against future cuts.

Name supplied, Chingford