Protesters take fight to the street (From Bucks Free Press)

Protesters take fight to the street

9:31am Friday 9th December 2005 in News By Paul Leat

CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets of Micklefield as the fight to save their library gathered pace.

The Micklefield Library Action Group was joined by Midweek on Saturday to step up our Don't Take The Mick campaign.

Protestors, angry about proposals by Bucks County Council to shut down the facility in Micklefield Road, knocked on hundreds of doors urging people to sign a petition they hope will help save their library.

More than 200 signatures were added, taking the total number of supporters close to 2,000.

Walter Brind, 81, who lives just a few doors down from the library, wrote a poem to outline the need of the community.

He said: "I have used it ever since it opened. It is not just a library, it is more of a community hub. There is no other place that people can meet and talk."

Retired Ivy Fowler, 83, said having the library on her street was essential. She said: "It has been a godsend since I retired. There is not a lot you can do once you stop working, and it is not easy to get to Wycombe library."

Chris Turner, 40, takes his young son to the library. Mr Turner, of Micklefield Road, said: "The idea that they may be taking away community facilities is outrageous. My son loves to go there and if it closed it would be a real shame."

David Cannings, 46, also from Micklefield Road, has been put in charge of the bid to stop the library closure.

He has pleaded with people to back the Don't Take The Mick campaign and fill in consultation forms voicing their objections before the deadline later this month. Mr Cannings said: "Everyone has been really supportive but we need to keep it up.

"We need as many forms as possible if we are to convince them the library should be saved."

Library users have also been shown campaigners' plans for a brand new £500,000 library on the same site, which could include a computer suite and small cinema.

Cllr Julia Wassell, county councillor for the area, is putting together a bid for grant money from the National Lottery.

A meeting is due to take place next week where final plans for a new library will be put together. They will then be shown to lottery chiefs. Mr Cannings said: "We don't just want to save the library, we want to build a completely new one that will benefit the whole community.

"I think we will be able to do it, but we have to keep going."