Campaigners have said they will take legal action against Surrey County Council over their plans to turn 10 libraries over to volunteers.

Lawyers acting on behalf of The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) sent a ‘pre-action’ letter to the council last month challenging ‘the lawfulness of SCC’s decision making process’ calling for an injunction and judicial review.

But SCC claimed the group were too late in lodging a legal appeal and there is no suggestion that it intends to halt plans to replace full time staff at the libraries across Surrey, including Stoneleigh, Ewell Court and Tattenhams.

The mobile library service will also be withdrawn in a bid to save cash.

However, SLAM is adamant that it is not too late to legally challenge the moves and has said it will continue with legal action which could see a judge rule on whether a judicial review of the decision should be held.

Lee Godfrey, from SLAM said: “They were saying that we were too late to issue legal proceedings and that they didn’t have a legal obligation to consult if other 'alternative mechanisms' were in place.”

SLAM said the council has claimed the group’s protests and letters of objection served as an ‘alternative mechanism’ to a public consultation releasing them from any legal obligation to consult before a decision had been made.

Mr Godfrey added: “We expected them to defend their position.

But we are slightly disappointed with the quality of their defence.”

Under proposals, each library will be run by a core group of volunteers who will be given training by SCC with an additional experienced member of the council’s library team provided for at least 20 per cent of their opening hours.

Surrey County Councillor for Epsom and Ewell North, Eber Kington, said: “In terms of what SLAM are doing it shows the issue hasn’t gone away albeit I know groups like Ewell Court are still working toward a voluntary solution.

My frustration with all of this is that at the end of the day there’s relatively little to be saved, but they are spending a great deal of time and money defending their indefensible position.”

A Surrey County Council spokesman said: “We understand that people care for their libraries and that’s why we have come up with plans that aim to keep all 52 in Surrey open.

Our plans mean we can focus on the more popular libraries while investing in the latest technologies to make them better”.