HUNDREDS of concerned residents took to the streets on Saturday against plans to slash library services across Cardiff — but a Labour councillor dubbed them a “collection of egos.”

Many of the 600 people brought their favourite book to the demonstration outside Cardiff Central Library against plans to reduce services at seven libraries across the city (pictured).

Their campaign is supported by Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield, who warned the plan would turn Cardiff into a “cultural wasteland.”

Despite also opposing the cuts, Cllr Ralph Cook said the 600-strong demonstration would do nothing to save the seven threatened libraries.

Writing on Facebook ahead of the protest, he said it was likely to be “simply a collection of egos expressing more or less similar opinons, often ill-informed ones at that.”

“The Cardiff library protesters will be back at work on Monday. Meanwhile the people (councillors) who will save them will do so at group.”

Mr Cook was referring to a meeting of Cardiff Council’s governing Labour group to be held this evening at which he and other councillors will argue for the library cuts plan to be ditched.

His comments were condemned by fellow Labour councillor Darren Williams, who pointed out that 85 staff may not “have a job to go back to” unless they take action.

Staff and community campaigners were joined at the protest by well-known Welsh writers.

Real Cardiff author Peter Finch said the idea that library services “should be sacrificed in pursuit of saving a small sliver from the local council’s budget is appalling beyond belief.”

lukejames@peoples-press.com