PROTESTORS took to the streets today to march against Greenwich Council’s proposed cuts package.
Marchers assembled at 11.30am outside Riverside House, Creton Road, Woolwich before setting off for a midday demonstration through the town.
They followed a route through the town centre and past Woolwich Town Hall whilst banging on homemade drums.
Representatives from various campaign groups were present, including, Unite, Greenwich Save our Services and the Socialist Party.
Lydia Palmese
Socialist Party member, Lydia Palmese said: “Everybody here has either been directly or indirectly affected by the cuts and it is important that we all come together to support the cause.
“I work in Adult Services for Greenwich Council and have had warnings that I may be made redundant.”
Claire Swannell
Claire Swannell, a 41-year-old Adult and Older People Services worker said: “Every council employee, including myself has received a second section 88 notice letter.
“As far as I am aware only 33 per cent of the previous batch of letters has been signed. The rest of us are trying to hold out as much as we can for our colleagues.”
Julie Mander and Mary Hackwood
Julie Mander, a 54-year-old Library assistant at Eltham Library said: "Libraries are free and safe places for people to go. It is an easy argument for the council to make that they are becoming redundant, but that is absolutely rubbish. "
“To say that libraries are being replaced by the Kindle is ridiculous. They are not businesses, they are a service and an amenity.
She added: "The use of libraries is a right and a privilege and people should not be deprived of that right.”
Also present at the demonstration were representatives of Lewisham’s Anti Cuts Alliance (LACA) and Greenwich Pensioners Forum.
Michael Coulston of LACA told News Shopper: “We are here giving our support to what they are doing in Greenwich. The cuts are part of something bigger than boroughs and everyone has got to support each other.
Onay Kasab
Chairman of Unite and heading up the protest was Onay Kasab. Addressing the crowd he said: “We have got to be prepared to fight every cut.”
The scores of people gathered cheered when he said that “there are no good cuts, only bad cuts.”
Mr Kasab added: “Councillors should fight to stop the cuts and support the people who voted for them.”
Greenwich Council blames slashes in government funding for its planned £67m worth of cuts.
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