HIGHWORTH library was occupied on Saturday evening by campaigners angry about proposed cuts to the libraries service.

The sit-in, staged by 12 people the oldest of whom was 73, came at the end of a ‘day of action’ by library users, campaigners and supporters across the town.

Swindon Borough Council’s proposals will see the number of council-funded libraries cut from 15 to five from next year, with community groups and the soon-to-be formed parish councils left to step in and take on the remaining ten if they are able to.

But the five libraries left in the core provision will not escape unscathed, the central library will see a reduction in staffed hours to 47.5 while the other four – North Swindon, West Swindon, Highworth and Park – will receive just 15 hours.

The group taking part in the sit-in at Highworth said that just wasn’t enough.

Campaigner Keith Smith, who also sits on the town’s council as an independent councillor, said: “We fought for a long time to get this library and we want to see more staffed hours.

“There are 29 different activities that take place here, as well as people withdrawing books, it is an important community space.

“We’re making our voices heard, we’re writing letters to government ministers, our MP, the leader of the council and our borough councillors.”

The sit-in was entirely peaceful and lasted just under one hour after closing time. The group said they wanted to speak to a senior council officer and were pleased that the Head of Libraries, Allyson Jordan, was able to make herself available to hear their concerns.

Earlier on Saturday the morning, it was Highworth’s ward councillors who were hearing the same defiant message loud and clear.

When the councillors declined to join the group in the Market Square, the protesters went to them as they held their surgery in a nearby building.

A dozen people packed into the small room to challenge the three councillors.

Those that couldn’t fit in made sure their chants echoed through the alleyway outside and up to the first floor meeting room – ‘15 hours, not enough’ and ‘fund our library, make it last’ among them.

The group called on Councillors Penny, Weisinger and Bishop, who also sit on the town council, to represent the views of their constituents and vote against the library proposal when it goes before the council in the coming weeks.

While the situation in Highworth is causing concern for campaigners there, seven miles away at the Arts Centre in Old Town, there are fears that the library could close for good next year.

It is among the ten sites set to lose council funding and unlike libraries in Wroughton, Stratton and Covingham, the council have not expressed any confidence that a solution can be found to allow a local group to step in.

Old Town joined the ‘day of action’ on Saturday with a ‘read-in’ where families with young children, members of the book club and other library users came to demonstrate its value to the community.

Long-time Old Town resident and avid library visitor, Gill Blaylock, took part in the read-in with two of her grandchildren.

Gill often brings them to the library where they can read in the children’s area and select books to take away with them.

“They love coming here and they will be very disappointed if it closes.

“It’s important to have a library in the community – it’s not too big and the staff are brilliant, elderly residents who can’t walk too far can come in.

“I think it’s very sad.”

Julia Arkell is a retired headteacher at Holy Rood School, she has lived in Old Town for most of her life and comes to the book club at the library.

“I’ve been a member of the library ever since I could read,” she said.

“I remember when I was younger we would go to a summer reading group, there was one little girl who went every single day. Even when all the others had gone on holiday the librarians kept it going just for her.

“For children it is so important, it’s the idea of excitement, of getting information, gaining knowledge and being able to escape into another world – you only get that through fiction and libraries help people to discover it.”

The libraries strategy is expected to pass when the cabinet meets to consider it on Wednesday this week.