High Court judge gives green light to library closure judicial review

Campaigners have won permission to bring judicial review proceedings over the proposed closure of a library by a Welsh council, after an oral hearing.

Mr Justice Foskett last month refused the Rhydyfelin Library Support Group permission on the papers.

The judge said cuts in public expenditure meant local decisions were required that would be unpopular and unwelcome to some sections of the local community. “If such cuts are not made, they have to be made elsewhere within the public budget with equally unpopular consequences in other spheres.”

Mr Justice Foskett added that the Summary Grounds of Resistance put forward by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council had contained a "convincing refutation" of the grounds upon which the application for judicial review was founded.

However, another High Court judge, Mrs Justice Cox, gave approval last week for a hearing to go ahead on 18 June.

Advised by law firm Watkins & Gunn, the support group has pointed out that the Rhydyfelin Library was not one of the original libraries earmarked for closure by Rhondda Cynon Taf as part of a savings drive.

The local authority gave a last-minute reprieve to Pontyclun instead, with its Cabinet concluding that the change would leave a better ‘geographical spread’ of libraries following the changes.

Caron Hadland, one of the campaigners, told the Rhondda People news service: “The decision for a full judicial review takes us one step closer to reversing the decision to close our local library. Rhydyfelin library is a vital component of our community used by everyone from pre-school children to pensioners.”

Michael Imperato of Watkins & Gunn said: “This is a momentous step forward in the case and a full judicial review will now examine the decision-making process of the council. We hope to quash the council’s decision to close the library for failing to consult with local residents and take into account their equality duties.”