Children threw their support behind a campaign to stop libraries from being “ripped away”.

Hundreds of people staged a protest to stop North Harrow Library, in Pinner Road, being closed as part of cost-cutting measures in Harrow Borough Council’s latest budget.

On Saturday, December 13, more than 100 people waved an eight foot banner outside the building, begging councillors to rethink their decision.

Pupils from St John Fisher School, who say they “love” reading, also took part in the protest, joining in with chants of “save our library”.

Martha Elmer, six, a Year 2 pupil at Pinner Park School, and her little sister, Tessa, four, wrote a heartfelt letter to Harrow Borough Council about what the library means to them.

They wrote: “Dear Harrow Council. We love our library because people learn how to spell, read and write. Please don’t shut North Harrow Library.”

Harrow Times:

Their mother Julia Elmer said: “Writing the letter was their own idea. Martha is reading chapter books and is devouring them, so it’s great for her to constantly have the choice of books to read.

“She had a project to do over the half term holiday and went down to the library for research and she really enjoyed it.

“The children would really miss the library. Staff are incredible and part of the community. It’s more than a place to pick your books up from.

“North Harrow needs somewhere – the rest of the town has been decimated. We’ll lose the life of our town.”

The 52-year-old only expected up to 20 people at the protest – so was overwhelmed when people across the community gave their support.

Under proposals put forward by the ruling Labour administration, the Bob Lawrence Library in Edgware, Hatch End Library and Rayners Lane Library could all be shut.

Councillor Sue Anderson, cabinet member for community, culture & resident engagement, said: “Residents have every right to be angry about the £75m of cuts being imposed by the Conservative government on Harrow Council and our residents.

“Although no decisions have been made it is only right that we consider all the options available to us. The potential closure of North Harrow library could save us hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and there are two other libraries just over a mile away, which can provide a similar range of services.

“I know many children grew up using Harrow’s libraries and I have many happy memories of my own time spent there. I understand how important they are to the community. This is why we are working hard to ensure that access to libraries and the resources they provide from books, training, and access to the internet are preserved.”