Judicial review opens into Lincolnshire's libraries' plan

Save Lincolnshire Libraries group has argued the council did not carry out a proper consultation

A judicial review into cutbacks to Lincolnshire libraries has been told the local authority has failed in its legal duty to provide a full service.

Barrister David Lawson said the county council plans would hit the disabled, young people and the unemployed.

The council is planning to save £2m by moving to community-based libraries run by volunteers.

County council leader Martin Hill said the authority had "taken great care" over the process.

Budget cuts

The hearing at the High Court in London is expected to last two days.

Mr Hill, leader of the Conservative-led authority, said: "We took great care over this process and I believe we have done it as well as we could have done and hopefully the judge will agree with us.

"The council has to find a large amount of money to be saved - about £140m - and library services have been asked to find £2m of that savings."

The campaign group Save Lincolnshire Libraries opposes the decision to move 30 county libraries into the community sector.