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Brent case refused by Supreme Court

03.02.12 | Benedicte Page

In a major blow, Brent campaigners have been refused permission to take their case against six library closures made by Brent council to the Supreme Court. 

The news comes on the eve of National Libraries Day. 

In a statement on the Brent council site, council leader Ann John said: "This final decision of the Supreme Court fully vindicates Brent Council's actions and upholds the earlier decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the High Court that the council acted lawfully."

She added: "We can now put the past behind us and focus our attentions fully on improving and developing a better library service for the people of Brent."

However Margaret Bailey, co-chair of the Save Kensal Rise Library campaign group, vowed it was "not the final chapter."

Campaigners had tried to continue their legal challenge to overturn the closure of six local libraries by seeking permission to take their case to the Supreme Court when their case was turned down by the Court of Appeal in December.

John Halford of Bindmans LLP, representing the campaigners, had said the Supreme Court would "decide whether to give permission to hear the case on the grounds that it raises issues of public importance", adding: "In my view it does raise those issues...Very similar decisions are being made up and down the country in relation to other library services, and we say they have to be made with the utmost care."

However according to a BBC report, the Supreme Court said there was no "arguable point of law".

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