Maidstone Greens have launched their campaign to stop the closure of the seven branch libraries in the Borough. County Hall’s Conservative chiefs let it slip last week that they wanted rid of branch libraries and would be reviewing them for savings over the coming year.
Cllr Mick Summersgill, Green Party campaigner for Marden and Yalding: “We saved Tovil Tip and fought the closure of Marden’s Children’s Centre and now the Conservatives are coming for our libraries. We will fight this hard.”
Cllr Derek Eagle, Green councillor for Sutton Valence and campaigner in Headcorn: “Libraries should be at the heart of communities. They are not just a place for borrowing books, they provide valuable services such as meeting rooms for community groups. KCC are intent on ripping the heart out of our villages.”
Cllr Stuart Jeffery, Green councillor for Bridge ward, “While the Conservatives on KCC moan about government cuts, they continue to stand by their party. If they cared they would take a stand with us. We must not let these close as they are at the heart of our communities.”
Notes
· The petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/kcc-must-not-close-our-libraries/
· There will be a protest outside County Hall on 19th Feb – details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/883192323502282/
· See Item 9 here https://kent.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/838906 (Harry Rayner and then Peter Oakford) and page 9 of this report https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=122809
· Alongside the main library in Maidstone, there are branch libraries in:
o Allington
o Bearsted
o Headcorn
o Lenham
o Marden
o Shepway
o Yalding