Salford says:

"Don't close our women's centre"

"SAVE OUR Women's Centre" chanted 50 protesters on 9 January, opposing the Labour-driven closure of Salford women's centre. This vital community resource provides facilities for women across Salford. The Labour-controlled council are trying to force its closure as part of their agenda for privatisation and 'gentrification'.

Steve North, Salford

We assembled at the women's centre and marched down to the road, waving our glow-sticks and getting a lot of support from passing motorists! The council say they cannot justify continued funding for the women's centre.

Yet they can 'justify' hundreds of thousands of pounds being spent on 'prestige projects'. Public money should be made immediately available to fund the centre indefinitely. Any savings the council needs to make should be made by abandoning privatisation and private-sector partnership projects, not closing community facilities!

The next steps for the campaign are to lobby the Labour councillors on 14 January, and the full council meeting on 16 January when campaigners with banners will pack the gallery. We are holding more petitioning over the weekend and a campaign meeting the day after the full council meeting.

If the council decides to press ahead, we are looking to organise a larger public meeting. This could prepare a big demonstration to show Salfordians' mass opposition to 'their' council's cuts. Socialist Party members will continue to mobilise through the unions and among young people, to save our women's centre!