Row over Brent's 'you're always near a library' claim

Council bosses were embarrassed today after they were accused of misleading residents when their claim that no resident in Brent is farther than

In defence of Brent's decision to axe half its libraries council leader Ann John had said that - despite the closure of libraries in Barham Park, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton - "every resident in Brent will still be within 1.5 miles of one of the six libraries staying open in the borough".

But council bosses were forced to backtrack after new maps showed hundreds of residents in Brent already live more than 1.5 miles from a library since the closure of Barham Park.

The maps, released by Brent Liberal Democrats, also show how the number is set to increase once the town hall library shuts to make way for the new civic centre library.

In an email seen by the Standard, Toni McConville, director of customer and community engagement at Brent council, apologised for the "error".

It comes as library campaigners, who have been supported by playwright Alan Bennett, prepare for their case to be heard in the Court of Appeal on Thursday and Friday after a judge dismissed their claim that the library closures were unlawful.

In an article in Brent Magazine, Brent claimed victory over campaigners after Mr Justice Ouseley dismissed the claim against them in Brent's favour.

Councillor Ann John is quoted saying that she is "confidant" that the Court of Appeal would uphold the decision.

Lib-dem leader Paul Lorber said: "It raises the question of whether Labour councillors knew that Councillor John's claim was false." But today, Brent council refused to back down. A spokeswoman said: "It is nonsense that the council has been misleading anyone about the distance to a local library."

Meanwhile, thousands more residents are set to be left more than 1.5 miles from a library if Brent goes ahead with the redevelopment of Willesden Green library which could close the library for up to two years.