CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep Church Stretton Library in the town centre are considering if they can take any action under the ‘Localism Act.’

They have reacted angrily to the decision by Shropshire Council to turn down a formal review of their decision to move it out of town centre and they have been joined by the three councillors who wanted the decision reviewed.

They say the decision not to ‘call in’ the closure was made despite a mass of evidence highlighting the economic and social harm the move would cause.

Roger Evans, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on Shropshire Council, said: "It's pretty obvious that the council administration have made their mind up and have no intention of working with the community to resolve this matter.

"Not only will this decision be damaging to the town but it's also inconsistent. Elsewhere, such as in Pontesbury, they have worked closely with the community to seek a solution.

"Here despite the exhaustive work done by the Library Support Group to highlight the social and economic damage this move will cause, they are being ignored."

Councillors Roger Evans, Charlotte Barnes, and Heather Kidd had moved a 'call in' for a formal review of the decision. This was rejected by the portfolio holder, Cllr Steven Charmley.

"There is also quite a serious safeguarding issue here as it exposes children and older pedestrians to additional risk,” said Cllr Barnes.

“Given the town's elderly population, it is obvious that moving the library half a mile from the town centre would be a disaster for Church Stretton."

The Library Support Group and the three councillors are now seeing if pressure can be brought on the council under the provisions of the recent Localism Act.

But Councillor Vince Hunt, who chairs the scrutiny committee of Shropshire Council, said there were no grounds for the matter to be ‘called in.’

“I have considered your call in and after consulting with the council's monitoring officer I do not consider your call in request is valid,” he said.

“My reasons for this are that the rationale for your call in does not provide any new alternatives.

“The further information that is requested in the call in will be developed as the decision moves forward. The consultation has only just been completed and now the detail will be worked on.

"It has been made very clear that this proposal will be worked on with the community. I stressed at the last scrutiny committee that how this decision is progressing and developing will be on the June agenda for an update.

“Finally, I do not consider this a proper group call in as you have simply posted through the points raised by interested members of the public.”