High Court reserves Surrey libraries decision

Judgement has been reserved at the end of a judicial review into Surrey County Council's plans for 10 libraries to be run by volunteers.

Surrey County Council planned the community library scheme in a move aimed at keeping its 52 libraries open.

But campaigners opposing the move took High Court legal action amid claims the council consultation had been flawed.

A judicial review ordered by the High Court ended earlier, but its decision is not expected until next month.

'Lacked scrutiny'

Legal proceedings were issued by the Surrey Libraries Action Movement (Slam).

Slam spokesman Lee Godfrey said the judicial review would hold the plans up to scrutiny that the council "lacked throughout".

Councillor Helyn Clack, cabinet member for community services, defended the scheme and said the plan for 10 libraries to be run by volunteers was in order to keep Surrey's 52 libraries in operation.

She also said volunteers had been looking forward to launching their own community-run libraries.

The libraries identified as possible community facilities were Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haw, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Virginia Water and Warlingham.