Pressure is mounting on Nottingham City Council after it announced plans to close three libraries across the city. A protest has already taken place at Basford Library, in Vernon Road, and campaigners are planning another at Aspley Library, in Nuthall Road, on Saturday (March 18).
A campaign group, called Save Nottingham Libraries, has organised the protests aiming to persuade the council to reverse its plans to close these two facilities as well as the Radford-Lenton Library, in Lenton Boulevard. The authority is looking to achieve £28m of savings this year, and councillors have already backed plans for some children's centres to close and some youth workers' jobs to be cut.
Stewart Halforty, one of the organisers of the protests, told Nottinghamshire Live: "People have a deep attachment to these libraries and they have used them throughout their lives. There are generations of families which will have used them and they are beautiful buildings, nothing like ones which are now being built.
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"They are incredibly important. We understand cuts need to be made, but these libraries are the last thing you should cut. They should be protected at all costs."
As well as the protests, an open letter, signed by 100 local writers, has been sent to Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen calling on the authority to reconsider its decision. Signatories include Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, who has written about bringing up her musical family, including prized cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason; screenwriter William Ivory; poet and film writer Henry Normal; Guardian columnist Frances Ryan and nature writer Robert McFarlane.
Nottingham City Council officials said that the proposed closures were not decisions it wants to make but that its current financial situation meant it must save money somewhere. Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “We have had a strong track record for investing in our library service, but our current financial situation means we have some difficult decisions to make.
“We commissioned research which makes it clear that as well as making savings to ensure we have a service that is financially sustainable, we need to adapt our libraries so they meet the needs of the future. The pandemic has served to accelerate a move to online library resources in Nottingham and so while we know that libraries are often well-loved community resources, sadly some are under-used as people’s habits change.
“We wouldn’t choose to close down community libraries, but remain committed to having a strong, professionally-staffed library service that can provide support, give guidance and enable all our residents to access books, digital resources, provide learning, and development opportunities.
“The second phase of a public consultation is underway and I would encourage people to give us their views and opinions around whether what we are proposing will provide the future library service we need in Nottingham.”
According to council figures the three libraries proposed for closure had some of the lowest visitor numbers of the estate. There were 22,680 annual visits to Basford Library, 7,920 visits at the Radford and Lenton Library and 38,820 visits in Aspley.
Campaigners recently gathered outside the city council's Loxley House headquarters in protest against the closures.
Meanwhile, the Labour-run authority has avoided the step of Government commissioners being called in to run it - but concerns remain over £15m unlawful payments.
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