A campaign group today accused Southend Council of censorship after being banned from a library meeting room because it is "political."

Banned - protesters at a previous rally of the Southend Stop the War Coalition Picture: NICK ANSELL

The Southend Stop the War Coalition (SSWC) made a provisional booking to show a video to its members and the public this month.

Treasurer of the club Norman Traub was sent a letter by Southend Library, however, which cancelled the booking without giving any reason for why it did it.

Previously the library stopped the group from holding a political meeting because they said it was a public space and had to remain neutral.

Mr Traub said this meeting was only to show a video, and was not a political rally.

He said: "All we wanted to do was use the library meeting room to show a video, called Why War?, which was made by the Independent Media Society, a non-political group.

"By refusing to let us use the facility they are censoring us and it is an attack on our democratic rights."

A spokesman for Southend Council, who control library policy, said "It was explained to the SSWC at the time of the provisional booking that the use of the room would only be confirmed if it fell in line with the council's policy regarding room hire.

"It is council policy not to hire rooms to groups holding campaigning political meetings."

Published Wednesday January 21, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo