IF misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows, then Peter Hitchens and Philip Pullman must be very miserable indeed about Oxfordshire County Council’s proposed cuts to the library service.

Both have spoken out about their fears to the Oxford Mail, and The Insider wonders whether the issue is the first thing they have agreed on.

Children’s author Philip Pullman is one of Britain’s leading atheists; Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens one of their most vigorous critics.

In 2002, an article written about Pullman by Hitchens was headlined “Is this the most dangerous author in Britain?”, and more recently he has said the author’s literary status “has more to do with his leftism and his atheism than it does with the quality of his books”.

Now they are united in fighting the closure of libraries across the county.

Perhaps together, they are more powerful than you could possibly imagine...

County council leader Keith Mitchell proudly announced he had met the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street this week.

The Tory leader said he had used the opportunity to push Oxfordshire’s cause and told colleagues at County Hall: “A quiet word with friends in difficult circumstances is sometimes better than shouting from the rooftops.”

On the very same day, Mr Mitchell posted a blog entry about his regular surgery for residents in his Adderbury division.

“I was slightly surprised that nobody from Adderbury came along to discuss the proposed ceasing of funding for the local library,” he lamented.

Either Adderbury wants to shout from the rooftops, doesn’t value its library or Mr Mitchell has fewerfriends in the village than he thought.

Adderbury might not be clamouring to put Mr Mitchell on the spot, but Headington residents are. But it seems our county council top brass were less keen on meeting them to justify their proposal to axe library funding. The Insider can’t think why.

An email reveals that an invitation to speak at a public meeting, sent to several senior councillors and officers, was passed from pillar to post.

Both Mr Mitchell and cabinet member Judith Heathcoat had to politely decline along with senior officers. Mrs Heathcoat did respond to a number of questions and has offered to meet residents at County Hall.

You can’t accuse the county council of not thinking outside the (horse) box when it comes to dealing with both belt tightening and improving its environmental credentials.

At a recent discussion on the proposed Bicester eco-town, the Tory member for Bicester south, Charles Shouler, spotted an opportunity.

Commenting on the proliferation of bus and cycle lanes, the retired farmer said: “Why not have horse lanes?”

The veteran councillor said the innovation would be a victory for animal rights and the environmental cause.

And with one eye on the impact of cuts to the highways budget, he added: “Horses can jump potholes rather more easily than cars.”