ANGRY residents protested against proposals for a former library to be used as a drug centre.

Saturday's demonstration was held outside St James Street Library, in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, by residents calling on councillors to throw out plans at forthcoming cabinet meeting for the building to be used by the Drug Action Team to help drug addicts.

Campaigners argue that the council-owned building, which was closed in 2007, should be re-opened as a library because there is already a drug users' centre nearby in the Alpha Business Centre.

They also fear that their ward councillor Cllr Liaquat Ali, who originally said he was supporting the residents’ campaign, may vote in favour of the proposal if other Labour councillors want the decision to go ahead.

The St James Street Library Campaign has been active for two years to get the library re-opened for public use, either as a library or community space.