A county council's attempt to replace paid staff at 10 libraries with volunteers has been ruled unlawful by the high court on Tuesday because of equality issues.
Two residents who challenged Surrey county council were backed by judge Mr Justice Wilkie, who said the local authority "failed to have due regard to the equality issues" raised by the case.
The council had planned to remove the staff from 10 community libraries as part of a move aimed at keeping its 52 libraries open. But the high court heard that an equality assessment, outlining how volunteers would be trained to deal with customers with equality issues, such as disabled people, had not been put before the council cabinet when it took the decision.
Library campaigners hailed the decision as a victory. The council claimed the challenge had been upheld on a technical point and said there was no criticism of its plans for the libraries, "meaning the proposals could still go ahead".
The libraries identified as possible community facilities were Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haw, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Virginia Water and Warlingham.
Nicholas Dorrington, one of the residents, said he hoped the ruling would remind councillors "that they should not forget that we employ them to provide efficient services".
•This article was amended at 16.30 on Tuesday 3 April. The original introduction did not fully explain that the ruling related to equality issues raised by the case
