The Carnival Against Stuff

The News Shopper reports that approximately 1,000 people descended on Lewisham today to protest against planned reductions in Council services, during a 'Carnival Against Cuts'.

Demonstrators gathered outside libraries, banks and children’s centres at 34 locations across the borough, handing out leaflets and singing, before a march took place from the Town Hall.

The action was organised by Lewisham People Before Profit and Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance.

Speaking outside Barclays Bank in London Road, Forest Hill, organiser John Hamilton said: “It’s a focal point for the centre of Forest Hill more so than the library.

“The banks are one of the reasons we have been in this crisis of cuts.”

Those seduced by the Bacchanalian atmosphere are promised bigger, possibly rainier, carnivals in future. John Hamilton, the group's own Henry Winter, says the organisers have more meetings scheduled and are hoping to stage bigger protests in future.

Read the report here.