A NEW action group is set to be formed to fight for the future of the borough's library archive service.

Members of Redbridge's most prominent community groups - including Wanstead Historic Society - are negotiating plans to join forces to oppose planned cuts to the unit, which holds and maintains more than 150,000 of the borough's most important documents at Ilford Library.

Cost cutting proposals which would see the service reduced from six members of staff to one temporary worker were agreed in principle at a council cabinet meeting last night (Monday).

A public consultation is now due to be held on the plan.

Opponents of the scheme met afterwards to discuss forming a new group to campaign against the move.

Ralph Potter, of Wanstead Historical Society, was at the meeting.

He said: "There are plans for a new group to oppose these cuts.

"Jeff Page of Ilford Historical Society will lead this.

"We need to show unity against what they are trying to do.

"The archive service is vital and should be left as it is."

These views were shared by fellow Wanstead Historical Society member, Denis Keeling.

He said: "(Wanstead Historical Society) has an archive which needs to be catalogued and made available for viewing.

"If the archive service is reduced it would seriously undermine its ability to do this properly."