Preston Library campaigners have been fighting to save their branch

Jeremy Hunt ‘is not minded to intervene by way of a local inquiry into Brent Council’s library plans’

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The Secretary of State has hinted that he may not intervene in Brent Council’s decision to axe half of the borough’s libraries.

Campaigners fighting to save the six branches hoped Jeremy Hunt would step in and stop them from being closed for good.

However, a statement on the Department for Culture, Media and Sports’ website has revealed that Mr Hunt is ‘not minded to intervene by way of a local inquiry into Brent Council’s library plans.’

He will make a final decision around February 26.

If Mr Hunt decides not to investigate the closures this will deal a further blow to crusaders who have been battling to save Barham Park, Cricklewood, Neasden, Kensal Rise, Preston and Tokyngton libraries.

Despite a consultation showing that 82 per cent of respondents were against the closures, the council announced in April last year that they would go to save the town hall £1million.

Residents united by their anger formed Brent SOS Libraries to stop the closures and took their fight to the High Court and Appeal Court but lost.

Earlier this month they were refused permission to take their case to the Supreme Court leaving them with intervention from Mr Hunt as their last glimmer of hope.

To read the letter sent from the DCMS to Brent SOS Libraries’ solicitor visit http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Brent_Libraries_letter_140212.pdf