THREE East Lothian libraries will be open one day less each week due to a "recruitment freeze" and the need for "financial savings". 

Gullane, Port Seton and Ormiston residents will all 'lose' a day from their local libraries as a result of the changes, which get under way on Monday, September 30. 

The news was announced by East Lothian Council's Library Services on Facebook.

The changes will see Gullane Library closed on Mondays, Port Seton Library on Fridays, and Ormiston Library closed on alternate Saturdays.  

READ MORE: Longniddry Library to only open on alternate Saturdays

The East Lothian Library Services Facebook posts reads: "Service Update – Reductions in Library Opening Hours.

"Due to staff vacancies and in accordance with the current council recruitment freeze and need for financial savings, the following reductions in library opening hours will be introduced from Monday September, 30.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause." 

The announcement was made this morning and has been labelled "disappointing" by members of local community groups. 

Jackie Muller, secretary of Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council, said: "It is disappointing to hear the news that residents in Port Seton will lose out.

"Children's groups who use the library space on a Friday will be disadvantaged due to this decision."

Malcolm Duck, chair of Gullane Area Community Council, said: "I think this is a great shame losing services like this, as people want and need them.

"We understand that cuts do happen but residents should not have to pay out for other people's ineptitude."

Scott Gillies, chair of Ormiston Community Council, said: "It's disappointing to hear the news about libraries, especially as people in East Lothian are increasingly becoming disillusioned with so many cuts. 

"People will just have to adjust, but the question now lies: how long until libraries close altogether?"

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “We have been clear about the scale of the financial challenges that East Lothian Council is facing and the impacts that delivering £56m of necessary budget savings between 24/25 and 28/29 will have on service delivery.

“Temporary recruitment measures were implemented in August 2023 as part of urgent mitigations to reduce a forecast overspend for 23/24 financial year and these remain in place. This means current vacancies within these local libraries will not be filled and changes have been made to operating hours. This will take effect from 30 September.

“The teams are working hard to balance access to libraries, recognising the value that communities place on them, with our requirement to reduce costs.

“Any activities that occur within the days where hours have been changed will still continue, albeit on a different day. This will be arranged in consultation with the groups’ attendees.”