THE PEOPLE of Oxfordshire were urged to turn out in force in September 1979 for a massive demonstration to stop planned cuts to schools, nurseries and other council services.

Oxford Trades Union Council agreed unanimously to organise the demo within a month, which members felt could be one of the biggest the county had ever seen.

Chairman John Power said: "A lot of people have not yet grasped the full horror of these cuts. As they become more specific and we learn exactly what they are planning to cut, I think people will turn out in force."

David Lewis, of Redefield School – a National Union of Teachers delegate – told the meeting: "If we let these nurseries be closed down it will take us 10 or 20 years to get them back. They will sell the buildings."

A public meeting already planned at Oxford Town Hall the following month to discuss health service cuts was widened to include the announced cuts in schools, nurseries and social services.

Members of the Oxfordshire Play Association and the Oxford City Nursery Campaign, along with teachers, children from South Oxford and Rose Hill, lobbied the meeting calling on the Trades Union Council to take immediate action to fight the cuts.