Campaigners protest against library relocation

Campaigners protested outside a library to mark the end of a consultation that could lead to its relocation.

They argued any move could make Southchurch Library, in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, less accessible and deter families from using it.

Southend-on-Sea City Council has been considering either moving services elsewhere in the city or constructing a new building on the existing site.

Labour cabinet member Matt Dent said a final decision was yet to be made.

Relocating services to Southend Adult Community College was one of the proposals, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The consultation closed on Friday, hours after the protest was staged outside the library in Lifstan Way.

James Miller, leader of the Southend Confelicity political group, said 30,000 people used it each year.

"Saving Southchurch Library is a local issue and therefore we need only the support of Southend councillors to take this into the chamber and fight our cause," he said.

Fellow campaigner Lee Clark added: "We are asking for fairness. This library is not simply a building that can be picked up and moved.

"There are seven schools nearby, four bus routes, four major roads and an entire community that relies on this library."

The library building was estimated to remain functional for 25 years when it opened.

More than 50 years later, the council said it was showing "significant signs of age and deterioration".

Dent, the local authority's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, said: "As I've said from the start, no decision has been made."

He said if residents responded negatively to the ideas proposed in the consultation, their views would be listened to.

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