WALTHAMSTOW: Campaigners protest to save library (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAMSTOW: Campaigners protest to save library

1:25pm Friday 29th October 2010 in News By Safira Ali

A PROTEST will be held tomorrow after the council announced plans to sell off a much-loved library.

St James Street Library, in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, closed in 2007 after the council made budget cuts. The authority originally planned to turn it into a drug treatment centre.

But the plan was ditched following protests from residents, who argued that the building should be accessible to all.

They were hopeful that the site could eventually be used by local clubs and groups.

However the council has formally rejected calls for the building to be re-opened for community use and said it is likely to be sold off at an auction.

The authority insists the area already has several community centres.

Liberal Democrat councillors have organised the protest outside the building to show the council there is strong support to keep the building for community use.

Cllr Mahmood Hussain, who has organised the protest, said: “People want to keep the premises and turn it into a community space. There is a strong feeling among the residents about this.

“We are asking the council to either stop selling it and leave it as a community space, or if they go ahead to leave a portion of it for the community.

“We are trying to highlight the issue through the protest. I am quite confident we will have a good turnout.”

Resident Alison Griffin, 38, of Coppermill Lane, said: “We welcome the support and concerns of the Lib Dems. We have been trying to do something about the building for the last three years. We have to see it return to a community space.

“Nobody wants to see it stay empty and boarded up. But we don't want to see it sold on to a housing developer either. The building is still under threat and has an uncertain future. We are welcoming the protest and hope it makes a difference.”

The Guardian is waiting for a council comment.

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