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Brent library campaigners have been given permission to appeal against the judicial review decision made against them in the High Court by Mr Justice Ouseley last week.
The case will be heard in the court of appeal as an "expedited hearing" within a few weeks. Law firm Bindmans, acting for the campaigners, will also seek an injunction in the court of appeal today (Wednesday 19th October) to protect the six Brent libraries affected by the decision pending that appeal.
John Halford of Bindmans said it was "quite remarkable" that permission for an appeal had been granted so quickly. He said: "It normally takes months. The reason it is happening so quickly is that the court has been made aware of Brent council's brutal actions in the aftermath of Mr Justice Ouseley's judgement, trying to board up the libraries immediately. They've taken a view on whether that means they should deal with it very quickly, and it is a positive view."
Local residents have been demonstrating outside Brent's closed libraries, in particular Kensal Rise Library and Preston Library, since the council closed them immediately following the judicial review decision. However, Brent council has succeeded in boarding up Cricklewood Library and removing its books and computers.