Petition launched over library cuts (From Thurrock Gazette)

Petition launched over library cuts

THURROCK’S Labour Party has launched a petition against cuts in the borough’s library service.

As reported in last week’s Gazette, Thurrock Council plans to claw back more than £50,000 by cutting library opening times.

The Labour party launched the petition at Tilbury Library, in Civic Square, on Saturday (October 24).

Bukky Okunade, councillor for Tilbury, said: “How can it be right for Tory councillors to cut library services for £51,000, while at the same time wanting to spend £600,000 on a council newspaper?

“Given a choice, people will always choose access to books and libraries over council funded political propaganda, that’s why we’ve launched this petition.

“We’ll be out an about in the weeks ahead but people can also sign up online.

“There’s huge strength of feeling against this cut.

“We want to send the Tories a clear message – we don’t want our council cutting library services.”

Leading Labour councillor Carl Morris added: ”These penny-pinching cuts tell us everything about the Tories in Thurrock.

“In hard economic times the use in public services like libraries increases yet the Tories want to cut the services.

To sign the petition log onto www.gopetition.com/online/31687.html