This week it has been announced that the Conservative City Council plan to CLOSE two of Southend’s libraries, and intends to reduce the service and hours at three of the remaining libraries.
Our Green Team has launched an urgent petition calling on the council to take our libraries off their chopping block.
In his Echo article, Cllr Cox also announced huge cuts to Family Centres, with a proposal to close 4 out of 9 centres altogether. The Green Party is against these closures and will be launching a separate petition against these proposals too.
We all know that the Conservatives made the retention of weekly refuse collections a key message in several recent elections, but they’ve announced today that this is a promise they can’t afford to keep. It now looks likely that Southend’s waste collection will move to a fortnightly collection from April 2025. Another broken promise from the Conservatives.
Concerningly, the Conservatives have also suggested selling off the pier to a private operator in order to raise some quick cash. The Green Party remain firmly against the privatisation of our city’s Heritage assets.
It seems they’re coming for the arts also, with an announcement that the NetPark arts project which delivers an art therapy-based service for adults with dementia will be scrapped entirely.
A full list of the proposed cuts which are due to be discussed by the council tonight, can be found online here:
Our branch Coordinator, James Vessey-Miller has written to the Cabinet Member Cllr Derek Jarvis, and written to the local press. In his letter, James says:
“I condemn these proposals, and I do not accept that these cuts are proportionate, considered, or fiscally appropriate.
“To illustrate just one of many excruciating hypocrisies in this matter; one of the first acts the Conservatives did in May was voluntarily waive much-needed civic income from seafront parking charges as a kickback to their donors on the seafront. Cllr Terry estimates this at £500,000,pa in lost revenue.
“The estimated savings in closing two libraries and reducing services at the others is £200k,pa. This could be financed two and a half times over by the reinstatement of the axed parking charges. Where do the Conservatives’ priorities lie; with residents, or with their donors?”
🚨 We have launched this petition to send the council a strong message that residents will not accept ANY cuts to our library services.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/save-our-southend-libraries/