High Court to start hearing second judicial review over libraries plan

The High Court will tomorrow (21 July) begin hearing a second judicial review challenge into Lincolnshire County Council’s plan for its libraries.

The Save Lincolnshire Libraries group argue that the council’s revised plans are “fundamentally no different to the plan decided upon in December 2013”, which was quashed by the High Court because of flaws in decision making and consultation.

The latest proposals would reportedly see the number of libraries cut from 47 to 15, and a tender held for the operation of those remaining 15. The other libraries would be offered to voluntary groups or replaced by a mobile service.

Speaking on behalf of Save Lincolnshire Libraries ahead of the High Court hearing, Cllr John Hough (Labour) said: “We appeal to the county council even at this late hour to discuss with Simon Draper [the claimant] and Save Lincolnshire Libraries a way out of legal proceedings that are costly and unnecessary.

“Despite repeated attempts to get the council to come to the table to discuss the issues they have refused to engage with the people of Lincolnshire on finding a way forward for the library service that offers an alternative to closure or to withdrawing valued and experienced staff from the existing libraries.”

“No one chooses to take court action but Tuesday’s hearing is a direct result of Lincolnshire County Council’s refusal to properly consider that there are alternatives to its dogmatic insistence on seeking volunteers to run 30 or so libraries.”

Lincolnshire County Council’s executive member for libraries Nick Worth told the Stamford Mercury that the local authority had prepared “the strongest possible defence.”