Library campaigners are demanding a formal apology after receiving an ‘incorrect and disingenuous’ email from a councillor.

But Edgware councillor Barry Kendler insists he has nothing to apologise for after alleging their campaign to keep Bob Lawrence library open was politically motivated.

Campaigners trying to save the library from closure say they gave Cllr Kendler 24 hours to apologise for an email sent on the morning of Monday, March 2 that they believe questioned the ‘integrity’ of their campaign.

In an email sent to the group yesterday on behalf of the three Edgware councillors, Cllr Kendler said they were prepared to assist the group but would not support the campaign that they believe may be a front for parliamentary candidate Nana Asante.

The email also added that the councillors had not been approached regarding the campaign, stating campaigners preferred to approach the opposition party, and that they believed the lead petitioners do not live in Edgware nor in the borough.

A spokesman for the Bob Lawrence Library Campaign Team said: "We have serious concerns about Cllr Kendler's statements. We are disappointed that rather than represent Edgware and support the campaign, he chooses to question our campaigner's integrity and dedication towards a worthy cause.

"We demand that Cllr Kendler issue a public apology to the Bob Lawrence Library Campaign Team and a formal retraction of all the false statements he has made in the March 2 email addressed to the Bob Lawrence Library Campaign Team.

"Regretfully, the Bob Lawrence Campaign Team does not wish to engage with Cllr Kendler, who has indicated in writing that he will not participate or support our campaign in spite of it being such a worthy cause. Any effort on his part would be disingenuous and biased."

Petitions to save the Bob Lawrence library were presented to the council by lead campaigner Farah Sadiq last Thursday.

The group says Ms Sadiq lives half a mile from the library and regularly uses it with her children, and the petition also included signatures from children from nearby Stag Lane School.

Cllr Kendler claimed campaigners hoping to save North Harrow library had approached all six councillors from all parties as part of their campaign, and said that was how the Bob Lawrence campaign should have been carried out.

He said: "I did not question the integrity of their campaign and that is not what they wrote to me subsequently. They said I was rude and aggressive and that is simply false.

"They have prepared proposals which they have submitted to the portfolio holder Sue Anderson and to the opposition, but we have been sent nothing - they have not approached the three Edgware councillors at all.

"Their first email to me said that we voted for a budget which broke promises, but that to me isn’t asking for help, it’s a political attack."

Cllr David Perry, leader of Harrow Council, said: "The Labour Group on Harrow Council has the utmost respect for genuine community campaigns and any efforts to protect local services as both Harrow Council and our community are currently faced with £83m in cuts to our budgets from government over the next four years.

"I was extremely pleased to see the positive comments and compliments made from the Bob Lawrence Library Campaign Team towards Cllr Sue Anderson as the relevant portfolio holder working with the community to protect our library service.

"I have only just been made aware of the comments made by Cllr Barry Kendler, and therefore I will need to establish further details before providing public comment."