CAMPAIGNERS have staged a protest outside Southampton Civic Centre this evening.

A group demonstrated ahead of the city council overview and scrutiny committee meeting to raise awareness of a variety of causes including the NHS and library provision in Southampton.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the Labour-run council has proposed shutting five libraries and the mobile unit to cut costs and save £286,000 per year.

But Conservative councillors were unhappy about a lack of information on the groups which the council says have expressed interest in taking on the five libraries, and called the plans in for further scrutiny at tonight’s meeting.

A long-term review into the futures of Cobbett Road, Millbrook, Thornhill, Weston, Burgess Road and the mobile libraries was launched more than a year ago.