Campaigners begin 'fight to the death' against planned Brent library closures

Campaigners today vowed to fight "to the death" as their petition to save six libraries came to the High Court.

The judicial review, the first of its kind, will see campaigners take on Brent council - which plans to shut down half of the borough's 12 libraries to save £1 million.

Their lawyers will argue that the proposed closures would have "serious, irreversible consequences" on the community. They are among the most severe in the capital.

Opponents say the council's plan for a £3 million "mega library" at its new £10 million civic centre is a waste of money. More than 70 people arrived at the High Court for today's hearing.

Novelist Tim Lott, 55, a father-of-four who is on the committee of the Save Kensal Rise Library campaign, said: "On a national level, this is the first real challenge to the axe that is swinging through libraries nationwide.

"If we win this battle it shows the tide going against libraries for the last couple of years can be turned around.

"We're trying to run the library as a social enterprise but Brent is very reluctant to give way on this. It's a fight to the death and I think Brent have been taken aback by the strength of feeling."

A public consultation found 82 per cent of residents opposed the closures.