Brent campaigners lose latest court case to keep libraries open

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save half of Brent's libraries from closure have lost their legal battle at the Court of Appeal today.

Judges told Brent SOS Libraries they were not overturn the unfavourable result of a judicial review that upheld Brent Council's decision to shut six branches to save £1million.

The Labour-run authority closed the half a dozen libraries - Barham Park, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton - on the eve of that judicial review and they have remained locked ever since.

The campaigners said the outcome was "disappointing" and said they are considering taking the case to the supreme court, the last legal step possible.
Solicitor John Halford, of the campaign's solicitors Bindmans LLP, said: "Today's Court of Appeal ruling is very difficult to reconcile with what Parliament had intended when it enacted the equality duty that obliges Brent and all other local authorities to properly grapple with the impact that a withdrawal of local services of this kind has on communities.

"There are still other options to be pursued. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport have looked at over 2,000 complaints from people in Brent about the decimation of the library services. Today has been very disappointing. We were press on."

One of three appellants in the case, Margaret Bailey, co-chair of the Save Kensal Rise Library campaign and manager of Kensal Green Under Fives Community Nursery, said: "We are disppointed the appeal judges have not found in our favourite.

"Closing half of our libraries has had a devastating affect on the most vulnerable members of our community, among them children and families, the elderly, the disabled and those who are unemployed or on low incomes."

Councillor Ann John (Labour), leader of Brent Council said: "We are pleased that today the court found unanimously in the council's favour, upholding the decision of Mr Justice Ouseley that the council acted lawfully. We will now be able to begin implementing the improvement plan that will deliver a better library service for the people of Brent."