On Saturday Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) organised a resident and cross-party protest in Saffron Walden Market Square against Essex County Council library cuts.
Barbara Light (R4U)“This isn’t just about books – our libraries provide a range of community services and are the heart of our towns and villages. They provide vital services, where young children go to play and discover the wonders of knowledge. Where older, sometimes lonely, people go to read newspapers, have a chat, or do a jigsaw or use a computer.”
BBC News Look East covered the protest in the Saffron Walden Market Square.
Cllr Light added “Residents have had enough of endless and mean spirited cuts to our community services. We are the 4th fastest growing district in the UK and we need investment in our libraries – not divestment. Uttlesford is already not getting its fair share of library budget and they now want to close half our libraries and reduce services in the rest.”
“Closing Thaxted and Stansted libraries would only save a paltry £13,000 so it’s clearly not about the money. The current ‘consultation’ on libraries is nothing of the sort. It’s a sham and a lie. Decisions have already been taken to decimate our local libraries as Conservative Essex Councillors John Moran and Sue Barker publicly let slip recently.”
“I have now written twice to the Secretary of State urging a call-in of the ECC consultation and decision as it is based on deeply flawed research and is possibly unlawful. If the Conservatives do close Thaxted and Stansted libraries, Residents for Uttlesford has vowed to find a way to reopen them. We cannot allow our libraries to be destroyed!”
The ECC public consultation on the library closings runs until to 21 February 2019. More information can be found online at https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/libraries-consultation.