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Save Harlow Libraries

 

Save Harlow Libraries

The Stow Library, Bush Fair Library and Staple Tye Library are all under threat of closure.
The main Town centre library had already been scaled down, put up for sale, then the deal was removed.
Currently, it is closed as it's being refurbished to add yet another Cafe to Harlow Town Centre.
I wonder if the very large Chelmsford library can boast a Cafe or even a gym inside it's library.
At the same time Harlow's population is increasing with more housing in and around Harlow, Conservative run Essex County Council want to close libraries.
The reason given by Conservative Councillors ? .............To save money.
Conservative run Essex County Council are trying to close yet even more Community and Culture facilities within Harlow.

Meanwhile, they fail miserably to do their job, what we pay for; repair Potholes in Harlow Roads, Cycle Tracks, Pavements and Street Lighting.

As of 31st March 2019 Conservative run Essex County Council had well over
One Billion & Several Hundred million pounds in reserve but still want to close libraries,to save 2.5 million pounds. 

The Four Conservative Councillors representing Harlow at Essex County Council are:

Edward C Johnson Vice-Chairman of Essex County Council - Harlow South East - email

Mike Garnett - Harlow North - email

Michael Hardware - Harlow West - email

Clive Souter - Harlow West - email

2018 The four Harlow Conservative County Councillors :Total Cost to tax payers= £62,055.76p
2019 The four Harlow Conservative County Councillors :Total Cost to tax payers= £72,929.24p (notice the £10,000 rise)
2020
The four Harlow Conservative County Councillors :Total Cost to tax payers=£70,961.50p (notice the £2,000 drop)
2019 All Essex County Council Councillors: Total cost to tax payers =£1,591,799.34p
2020 All Essex County Council Councillors: Total cost to tax payers =£1,515,153.96p (*notice the £76,645.38p drop)
*Covid must have reduced the amount of spending on parking for meetings.

Protest March June 2019

With a strong wind and forecasts of heavy rain, the towns of Essex held a protest march in Chelmsford, the county town of Essex.

All the towns seemed to have sent people to march against the Conservative County Council cuts to library services.

This was one of many marches against the closure of libraries, but it would be the last march against the Conservative County Council as the vote to close libraries neared.

From Harwich to Harlow, every town seemed to have a voice, all concerned about children's education and loosing a community asset.

I marched with them as I believe education for children is essential and libraries are part of learning.


The Conservative Government now in the middle of a Covid pandemic insist that education of children should come first.


Essex Conservative County Council seem to disagree.




Providing entertainment before the march
North East Essex District


Harlow Labour Councillor Tony and Mandy


keep Harlow Libaries Open

Assembling the marchers


What Harlow Loves about Libraries "Book"


Listening to speakers on the steps of County Hall

One of Harlow's main protesters Emma Batrick


The bottom line

Essex Conservative County Council announced libraries would remain open run by communities & charities with some initial funding.
Once the funding runs out whoever is running the library has to find the money for computers, broadband, rates, heating and lighting, plus books.
Many will Not be in the original libraries, many more libraries have already closed.

please see SOLE facebook pages

 

Roy's Harlow