Eric Segal, Kent Socialist Party and Folkestone resident
Tory Kent County Council first tried to close Folkestone libraries in 2022. So Socialist Party members initiated a campaign against this, led by South East Kent Trades Union Council.
The anger against the closure erupted with a demonstration of hundreds. Over a month, there were queues at our stalls to sign our petition against closure. 2,800 local people did, crashing through the 2,500 necessary to force the council to review its decision.
Disaffected Tories, a local millionaire philanthropist, right-wing Labour councillors, the Greens, and a Lib Dem councillor then tried to hijack the campaign. Their campaign finally degenerated into an attempt to only save the old library building, rather than stop the cuts to library services.
Time has marched on since closure was first announced. The Tory Party has imploded in Kent. Reform has taken over the council.
However, we now have a new library in the centre of town. Reform – fearing being kicked out like the Tories before – has been forced to provide us with a fully functioning library, with adult education, archives, and a children’s centre.
We thank those in our community who never lost faith. But we must remain vigilant to defend our public services.
