PROTESTERS warn their battle against an “unprecedented” £60m cuts programme is a fight they “have to win”.

Last week, Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock told News Shopper that the cuts, to be made over three years, would be “the worst in living memory”.

Lewisham National Union of Teachers (NUT) warns that one in four public sector jobs could go and council buildings could be closed as a result of the measures.

The union has helped organise a protest outside Lewisham Town Hall in Catford tomorrow night (July 14) ahead of a Mayor and Cabinet meeting which will outline plans to make the savings.

A decision will be made on whether to abolish around 32 posts from the Children and Young People department, with £31.9m in further cuts to be considered before a final decision in November.

Savings have been proposed across the board, including the closure of libraries in Sydenham, Blackheath, Crofton Park, Grove Park and New Cross, reducing the amount spent on council offices and closing at least one early childhood centre.

Lewisham NUT branch secretary Martin Powell-Davies said: “The most important thing I would want to do is alert people to quite how serious these cuts are going to be.

“This isn’t just another round of the council making some savings as has happened over the years.

“It’s something of another order altogether and is completely unprecedented.”

The council has announced the cuts in response to government plans to wipe out the national deficit, reducing departmental spending by around 25 per cent.

But Mr Powell-Davies said: “When people voted for a Labour Lewisham Council they expected that council to stand up to government policy rather than just carry it out.

“Those of us in the trade unions would agree very strongly that these cuts, as well as damaging communities, will do nothing at all to reduce the deficit.”

Lewisham borough has the highest rate of public sector employment in London, with 40,000 residents working in that area.

Mr Powell-Davies said: “What significant jobs are there in Lewisham outside the public sector?

“It will have a terrible knock on effect on Lewisham’s economy. Along with putting people out of work, their services will be cut too.

“We want Steve Bullock to say our local community can’t afford to make this level of cuts.

“He should join with the unions and communities in urging the government to think again.”

The union has already held one protest on Budget day, along with organisations like protest group Right To Work and Goldsmiths UCU, and warns there are more to come.

He said: “Between now and November there’ll be further protests.

“There’s a strong possibility of industrial action both locally and nationally.

“It’s a fight we have to win. You have to ask, what will our community be like if these cuts go through?”