A PROTEST group has called a demonstration - coinciding with multiple events across south Essex - in a bid to fight against planned library closures.

Save Our Castle Point Libraries will be marching on Saturday to keep the pressure on Essex County Council bosses as they decide the fate of libraries across the county.

Echo:

Protest - campaigners at County Hall

Echo:

Marching - protesters in Chelmsford

Under the plans, one-third of libraries are facing the axe while another third are at risk of closure if community groups do not come forward to run them.

Supporters will rally outside Tarpots Library, in London Road, Benfleet, at 11am before marching along Benfleet High Road, to South Benfleet Library for a final rally at 12.30pm.

Marchers are invited to bring their own banners and organisers will hold a wishing tree event, so people can leave behind messages about their library.

After the march, supporters are urged to attend the community day being held at Hadleigh Library, running from 10am until 4pm.

All three mainland Castle Point libraries - Tarpots, Benfleet and Hadleigh - have been categorised as ‘tier three’, meaning if plans go ahead, they will be run by community groups, with the support of the council. However, if no suitable offer is received and accepted within six months of cabinet approval of the strategy, the future of the library will be reassessed.

The demonstration has been planned to coincide with events in Colchester, Harlow and Chelmsford.

A Save Our Libraries spokesperson said: “Our local libraries across Essex are under serious threat and the public need to realise they could lose these fantastic community assets. This is not a victimless cut.

“The idea that volunteers can run our libraries is just a fig leaf to cover the reality of the cuts. Volunteers play a fantastic role already in areas like the home library service, but they will never be a substitute for professional library staff.

“Essex County Council are expected to make their decision in June. These are some of the very few public resources for the community that we have left in Castle Point and we believe people power can keep them all open.”

A countywide ‘carnival’ against the planned cuts is also planned in Chelmsford on June 8.

There will also be sit-in at Hadleigh Library, leafletting and petitioning, and are planning to take large numbers of residents to a county wide Carnival for our Libraries in Chelmsford on Saturday June 8.