Judicial review hearing on library closures postponed
Nicholas Thomas – Local democracy reporter
Campaigners hoping to challenge a council’s library closure plans have had their legal case postponed.
A judicial review on the closures by Caerphilly Council was due to be heard in Cardiff on Thursday June 4 but will now take place at a later date, which is yet to be decided.
Opponents of the cost-cutting closure plans argue libraries are a lifeline in the county borough’s smaller communities, and their loss would disproportionately affect their younger, older and less prosperous residents.
But the council claims it can deliver a better, more modern service at a smaller number of ‘hubs’ it plans to develop in the borough’s larger towns, where visitors can access the library alongside other council and third-sector services.
The proposal to close down ten of the council’s libraries – in Aberbargoed, Abercarn, Abertridwr, Bedwas, Deri, Llanbradach, Machen, Nelson, Oakdale and Pengam – is on hold pending the outcome of the legal challenge.
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Constant cutbacks such as cutting access to reading material and learning is crazy. People wonder why the birth rate is low. A factor being low birth rates is the ongoing steady stream of negative news – locally, nationally and internationally.