U-turn on proposal to cut funding for libraries

Proposals to cut funding for libraries in Essex have been scrapped after a backlash from campaigners.

Essex County Council had considered cutting £100,000 from its library book fund, which had been criticised by the campaign group Save Our Libraries Essex (Sole).

But at a meeting earlier, the Conservative-led authority announced the county's libraries would be receiving an extra £120,000 to spend on books and resources instead.

Deputy leader Louise McKinlay said the council was "committed to a high quality library service at the heart of our communities".

The authority is continuing with plans to introduce a £1.25 charge to reserve library books.

It says the fee will cover the cost of transporting books between libraries.

Mark Durham, the Conservative councillor overseeing library services, said he hoped it would reduce wastage because thousands of reserved books were left uncollected every year.

"What a waste of money that is, not to mention the ecological damage," he said.

Andy Abbott, a member of Sole, told the BBC even a minimal charge would "put people off using libraries".

The meeting followed a protest outside the council's offices at County Hall in Chelmsford, including members of the authority's Labour group.

Among them was Lee Scordis, representing an area of Colchester, who argued that "the principle of libraries is they are free".

Nearby counties like Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire have already introduced reservation charges.

Last month, Essex County Council's cabinet agreed to increase its share of council tax bills by 3.95% from April.

At the meeting, the Liberal Democrat opposition argued council tax should instead go up by the maximum 4.99% to help cover services like libraries.

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