London SE1 community website

Feminist Library campaigners present petition to Southwark Council

London SE1 website team

Campaigners fighting to save the Feminist Library from eviction from its home near St George's Circus presented a petition with 14,500 signatures to Southwark Council on Wednesday night.

Council Assembly
Cllr Fiona Colley accepted the petition from representatives of the Feminist Library
Feminist Library campaigners present petition to Southwark Council
Campaigners gathered outside Southwark Council's Tooley Street HQ on Wednesday

Last week we reported on the campaign to save the library which occupies a council-owned building in Westminster Bridge Road.

Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for finance, modernisation and performance, was due to visit the library on Friday.

"I'm very hopeful that we can find a mutually acceptable way forward for the library," Cllr Colley told Wednesday night's council assembly meeting.

Cllr Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, said that the threat to the library was "deeply concerning" and he had urged the council to find a solution.

"The library provides a vital space for discussion, debate, learning and sharing ideas at a time gender equality has not been realised and feminism needs its voice," he said.

"The Government has rolled back rights in a range of areas and its pernicious agenda has hit women far harder than men in a whole range of areas, including welfare and tax credit changes. It would be a huge shame for the local resource to close at such a crucial time."


Listen to audio
The SE1 website is supported by people like you
Related forum discussions
We are part of
Independent Community News Network
Email newsletter

For the latest local news and events direct to your inbox every Monday, you need our weekly email newsletter SE1 Direct.

Archive
News archive from February 1999 to January 2001
Got a story for us?
Contact us with your tip-offs and story ideas.