Reform council to scrap new library charges

Newly elected Reform UK councillors have said they will scrap library charges that were introduced only last month.

The Conservative administration at Essex County Council had introduced a £1.15 fee for adults wishing to reserve library books.

A campaign group had said the council had "set our libraries up to fail".

But the announcement from Reform, made earlier on Thursday, is one of its first actions since seizing control of the county council last week.

Reform deputy leader Russell Quirk said reversing what he called "silly decisions" was a priority.

Speaking to BBC Essex breakfast presenter Sonia Watson, he said the party had been "burning the midnight oil" and would "move fast" on decisions.

Peter Harris, the incoming leader of Essex County Council, added: "We want a library service which everyone in Essex can use without having to fork out for the privilege of doing so."

Harris, a businessman who was Nigel Farage MP's general election agent in Clacton, was elected for Clacton North after Thursday's vote.

"This was a tax on reading and learning," he said.

"I am very pleased as one of our first actions, we are committing to the removal of such an unfair imposition on library users by the previous administration."

Andy Abbott, campaigner and volunteer for the Save Our Libraries group, said he was "delighted" with the news.

He said the charge would have discouraged people from using the county's 74 libraries.

Stephen Robinson, a senior Liberal Democrat on the council, pointed out that his party had opposed the new charge since February.

He says his group will be "pleased" when the fees are eventually withdrawn.

The charge had been introduced on 22 April, and the former Tory administration estimated it could have generated about £150,000 per year.

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