Madam,

Now that the results of Gwynedd’s consultation over cuts have been pub-lished the response is clear: keep our front-line services. Obviously, individual concerns and priorities are different, but the largest proportion of respondents - over two thirds - have said they want to keep our leisure centres and libraries. This is because these are at the heart of our communities. Used by young and old alike, they are some of the key markers of modern civilised provision. Every area wants to retain them; never less than half saying so right across the authority. In SOS Gwynedd, we recognise that every other service area matters as well, that some are less visible but equally important to our health and wellbeing, others vital to the economy or to vulnerable people. Take food hygiene, as an example of the former, considered important by 42 per cent, but surely essential, or our Tourist Information Centres, prioritised by 25 per cent but the first point of call for many a tourist. Who would choose to cut support for victims of domestic violence? But only a third of us have made this a priority. So our councillors are left with many a hard choice, but the consensus over preserving those major community facilities which previous generations created should now be accepted as a clear guide.

Yours etc

Quentin Deakin

Chairperson SOS Gwynedd

23 Corbett Avenue,Tywyn.