PLANNED cuts to Gloucestershire’s library services have been ruled unlawful by a High Court judge.

Judge Martin McKenna ruled yesterday the councils acted unlawfully by not considering the impact on vulnerable people living in the two counties.

Last November Gloucestershire County Council announced that it would cut funding to library services by around 30 per cent in a bid to save costs.

The three-day High Court hearing was brought by campaigners fighting the proposals in the two English counties.

In Somerset, 11 libraries face closure while GCC wants to close 10.

Daniel Carey from the team of Public Interest Lawyers said: “Today's High Court ruling sends a clear message not only to Gloucestershire and Somerset, but to every council in the country that catering for the needs of the vulnerable must be at the heart of any decision to cut important services such as libraries.

"The 'big society' cannot be relied upon to justify disenfranchising vulnerable individuals from the services on which they rely.

He added: "I am very pleased for the thousands of residents who have supported this campaign.”

In a statement Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries said they were delighted with the outcome.

“This outcome follows the proper scrutiny of Gloucestershire County Council’s library plans in court; scrutiny which was never allowed under the councils own processes.

“The judge’s decision to rule in the claimant’s favour on equality grounds is a real vindication of our campaign, which has long argued that the removal of public library services from the most disadvantaged, deprived and vulnerable members of our community is grossly unfair. We are delighted with the outcome of the judicial review.

“This outcome follows the proper scrutiny of Gloucestershire County Council’s library plans in court; scrutiny which was never allowed under the councils own processes.

“The judge’s decision to rule in the claimant’s favour on equality grounds is a real vindication of our campaign, which has long argued that the removal of public library services from the most disadvantaged, deprived and vulnerable members of our community is grossly unfair.

GCC was planning on transferring up to 22 library and youth centres over to community control as part of a drive to save £114 million over the next four years.

Libraries in Bourton and Moreton were part of the community offer, while those in Chipping Campden and Winchcombe would become part of a new Library Express service which would see them open for longer.

Councillor Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said this plan could still go ahead.

He said: “We very disappointed for the community groups who are lined up to take over their services, but our promise to them is that we will continue to work with them on delivering successful community run services.

“In line with the judge’s ruling, we will be taking this decision again with an open mind but we are confident that our police on community run libraries is sound.”