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Lawyers have written to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, demanding that he order an inquiry into Lewisham library closures.
The Public Law Project, which advises local campaigners Peter and Patricia Richardson, sent a seven-page letter to Hunt today [10th March].
The lawyers claim that the culture secretary has failed to comply with his statutory duty to superintend the library service under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act by not issuing clear guidance to local authorities on complying with their own duties, or promoting the improvement of library services.
Examining in detail the situation in Lewisham, Public Law Project states:"We understand that the Richardsons drew their concerns to the attention of the secretary of state as early as August 2010. The secretary of state was consequently 'on notice' at an early stage that the borough council was pursuing a decision-making process which was flawed and would lead to the borough council failing to discharge its statutory duty."
The law firm therefore contends that Lewisham's decision to close five libraries demonstrates "the failure of the secretary of state to discharge his duty pursuant to section 1 of the 1964 Act" and formally requests that he institute an inquiry into the library service, directing the council not to take any further action over the closures until the inquiry's outcome.