Newcastle library closure plans outrage writers (UK)

Billy Elliot author Lee Hall and Carnegie medal winner David Almond have joined vocal literary defenders after Newcastle council announced on Tuesday that more than half of the city's libraries would be closed. Part of a £90m budget cut that will see at least 1,300 jobs go – and which Labour leader Nick Forbes blamed on a "grossly unfair" cut in its government grant – the measures will close 10 out of Newcastle 18 branch libraries