LAWYERS have launched a legal challenge to Gloucestershire County Council’s plans to cut back library services in the county.

Birmingham-based Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), acting on behalf of clients in Gloucestershire and Somerset, where library services are to be severely affected by cutbacks, are challenging the legal basis for making the cuts.

They claim plans – which include getting volunteers to run libraries - conflict with the council’s statutory obligation to provide a “comprehensive and efficient library service” for everyone wanting to use it.

PIL also argues that the two councils did not consult properly with local people or pay proper attention to the needs of vulnerable groups.

GCC plans to cut the number of libraries with full opening hours from 38 to nine and to axe the mobile library service altogether. Somerset County Council initially proposed to cut 20 of 34 libraries and to reduce mobile libraries from six services to two. They have since announced that the cuts will be reduced to a third of libraries.

PIL claims the scale of cuts in both counties is excessive and more than twice the percentage reduction in central government funding.

Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers said: “Libraries are the heart of communities up and down the country. Councils cannot pin their hopes on vague notions of the ‘big society’ when they are required by Parliament to maintain a comprehensive and efficient library service for everyone in the county. That means everyone, including single mothers, the disabled, the elderly and those living in rural areas.”

Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries, the campaign group set up to fight the library cuts, said it had warned GCC on more than one occasion that it was in breach of its statutory duties and faced the prospect of a legal challenge.

“The people of Gloucestershire have been let down by GCC, and it is sad to see that members of the public have had to resort to a legal challenge in order to hold their elected representatives to account, “ said FoGL spokeswoman Demelza Jones.

Councillor Antonia Noble, GCC cabinet member for libraries, said: “I have every confidence that the council has acted legally and we will, if necessary, defend our position in court.”