Why our battle for services must go on

THANKS to Joel Moore for his article (“We’re not going down without a fight say locals battling for library”, Post, March 23).

This protest, which involved residents, families, schoolkids, and campaigners, was one of the liveliest I have attended in defending local library services.

The march and protest demonstrated the active involvement of citizens, coming together to defend this precious community asset from the axe.

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, also said via Facebook on the day: “The new Nottingham Central Library is now open. It was great to see the fantastic facilities including IT services, a local history archive and dedicated children’s areas. Libraries are such a vital part of our communities. They deserve to be cherished and protected.”

Amen to that. We need to defend all of the existing libraries in the current portfolio, including the marvellous new facility in town.

This includes defending the three beautiful historic libraries in Aspley, Basford and Radford, which we thought we had “saved” in 2022-23 with our marvellous community campaign, but it turns out this might have just been a “reprieve”.

When I spoke with [Post reporter] Oliver Pridmore last month, the nuclear option of closing all but three of the libraries was definitely under consideration. The three earmarked for survival were the yet-to-be-opened Sherwood Library, Aspley Library, the marvellous Art Deco masterpiece, and the new Central Library.

And this option is now even more likely, following the ruling out by the Chief Finance Officer (Ross Brown), of a mitigating amendment moved by my local Sherwood councillor, Adele Williams at full council, which might have almost halved the likely budget saving for the forthcoming library review.

That ruling, by an unelected council officer, should have acted