WALTHAM FOREST: 'Day of action' against library cuts (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: 'Day of action' against library cuts

12:59pm Friday 29th July 2011 in Waltham Forest News By Daniel Binns

CAMPAIGNERS are planning a 'day of action' to protest against council plans to close two libraries.

It comes as Unison prepares to hold an informal strike ballot among library staff over the proposals, which it claims will lead to the loss of 18 jobs.

Organisers plan to erect a stage in Walthamstow Town Square for the event, on the afternoon of Saturday August 13, which they hope to use for talks from authors.

The mini "celebration" of libraries will also include children's activities and the launch of a borough-wide petition against the closures.

There is just over a month left until the end of a public consultation into the plans to shut branches in Hall Lane, South Chingford, and Harrow Green in Leytonstone.

Other smaller libraries will also have their opening hours slashed under the plans.

But Walthamstow Central, North Chingford, Leyton and Leytonstone branches will be rebranded as 'Library Plus' facilities with longer opening hours and extra council services.

Nancy Taaffe, who works at Wood Street Library in Walthamstow and is the co-ordinator of the Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union, said both residents and staff were united against the shake-up.

She said: “For staff we're not just fighting to save our jobs but also to stop the destruction of this valuable service.

“We are very concerned about the council's one-stop-shop plans for their 'Library Plus' branches. It's been done before in Forest Gate and if you go there you see people getting benefit advice from in between bookshelves and lots of others queuing up for different things.

"The atmosphere of a quiet library is destroyed.

“These proposals, if approved, will completely change these libraries for the worse.”

Ms Taaffe said staff were also concerned that the council was considering reviewing its home-bound book delivery service for the elderly, with fears further cuts could be made in future.

The council says it has little choice but to make savings of £1million in its library budget due to an unprecedented reduction in central Government funding.

Cabinet member for Leisure, Arts and Culture, Cllr Geraldine Reardon, has said the shake-up could actually improve the library service and make it more appealing to a wider spectrum of residents through improvements such as better computer facilities.

A final decision is not expected until October.

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter

Click here to follow the Chingford Guardian on Twitter