WIRRAL Council last night rejected the threat of legal action over its controversial plan to close 11 libraries.

Officials insisted they acted “properly and lawfully” when approving the Strategic Asset Review (SAR).

Solicitor and independent councillor David Kirwan had issued a letter to the council detailing his legal challenge to the SAR.

He gave the council until 4pm today to indicate whether or not it would oppose the legal action, which seeks a judicial review of the closure plans.

Cllr Kirwan has spearheaded the legal challenge to the plans and is also associated with moves to create a new political party to challenge the Labour and Liberal Democrat-controlled council at next year’s elections.

He said he was told by a leading barrister the judicial review has a “greater than 80%” chance of success.

But last night, a council spokesman insisted the authority acted “properly and lawfully”.

Initially, the SAR recommended Bromborough library closed and Eastham – a major point of recent protests – remained, along with the proposed closure of Woodchurch leisure centre and Guinea Gap baths.

But council leader Steve Foulkes said consultation meetings across Wirral persuaded officials to make changes, retaining the two leisure centre and baths and closing Eastham library instead of Bromborough.

Community centres and museums are intended to be transferred to the ownership and management of community groups, and it is expected the SAR will result in savings of more than £3m for the council.

Last night, the council spokesman said it had the letter from Cllr Kirwan.

He said: “We can confirm the correspondence has been received and will be responded to in full in due course.

“However, the council is confident we consulted properly and lawfully with local people with regard to the SAR.”