A SUCCESSFUL novelist from Colchester is among more than 1,800 people to have signed a petition to save a library.

Liz Trenow, also known as Liz Curry, said she signed the online campaign for Prettygate library after she feared its closure would stop people going to libraries altogether.

Liz, who has written five novels including best sellers The Last Telegram and the Poppy Factory, said: “I have used Prettygate library for the last ten years or so, ever since I have been writing historical novels and their service is exemplary.

“You can access any book across the UK by ordering it and it is more convenient to get to Prettygate and you get really personal service which is something you don’t get at larger libraries.

“I always see lots of older people and youngsters, teenagers popping in and I think they are going in there because it is simple and accessible and friendly, and I fear they would stop using the library if there wasn’t one on their doorstep.”

Essex County Council is behind the proposed closure and argues residents make more use of libraries online than ever before, with book borrowing figures in decline.

But Liz added: “The library computers are usually full of people going online and libraries are for research as well as book borrowing.

“They are also accessible for people who for one reason or another are unable to have computers of their own.”

The petition was launched last Wednesday with a target of 500 signatures.

Prettygate is one of 25 Essex libraries facing the axe in a council reorganisation of the service which will save it around £2 million a year.

The council says any of the libraries could stay open so long as community members are willing to run them.

Other libraries across Colchester and Tendring face closure within two years unless volunteers are willing to run them, or will have reduced opening times.

Among them is Manningtree and another petition has also launched to save it.

It has been set up by mum-of-two Holly Turner who attends baby classes at the library. So far nearly 500 people have signed Holly’s petition since it launched on Thursday.

Holland-on-Sea library is also earmarked for closure. Verity Coulthard, chairman of Holland Residents’ Association, said: “We would advise all residents to contribute to the consultation and the association would welcome the opportunity to work with Essex County Council to seek new ways of providing a library service in Holland-on-Sea.”

All 74 of the county’s libraries will be reviewed later this month after the authority said traditional library use has “collapsed” in the past ten years.

The council will begin a 12-week public consultation on November 29.

Drop-in sessions will be held at every library or visit essex.gov.uk/librariesconsultation.