Conservatives hit out at drop in library opening hours

A reduction in the weekly hours at more than half a dozen libraries across the county came into force at the end of last month.

The drop, which impacts libraries in Dunbar, East Linton, Gullane, Haddington, Musselburgh, Ormiston, Port Seton and Wallyford, is due to staff vacancies, East Lothian Council’s recruitment freeze and the need to make financial savings.

The move has been criticised by Conservative councillors Lachlan Bruce, Donna Collins and Jeremy Findlay.

The Conservative Group on East Lothian Council opposed the cuts to library hours, proposing instead a plan to save the necessary £300,000 by reducing senior management roles within the local authority.

South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy, who was previously a councillor for the Haddington and Lammermuir ward on the local authority, is working alongside his Conservative colleagues to collect data from residents about how they use the libraries and whether they intend to support or object to the council’s decision.

South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy (left) and Councillor Jeremy Findlay outside Gullane Library (Image: Contributed)

Mr Hoy described libraries as being “at the heart of our communities”.

And he said that smaller and village libraries were being disproportionately targeted by the reduction in hours.

He said: “Libraries are at the heart of villages like Longniddry and Gullane and it is important they remain open accessible for residents and visitors.

“They are vital part of our communities.

“To help us fight future cuts to public services and to library opening hours, we need your help.”

From the start of this month, Longniddry Library is closed on Mondays and alternate Saturdays.

In Dunbar, the library is closed at lunchtimes and on Thursday evenings while East Linton Library is closed on Fridays.

In Gullane, the library is closed on Mondays and alternate Saturdays, while Haddington's library is shut at lunchtimes.

Councillor Donna Collins and South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy outside Dunbar's Bleachingfield Centre (Image: Contributed)

Musselburgh's library is closed at lunchtimes, while Ormiston's library is shut alternate Saturdays and Port Seton Library is closed on Fridays.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council highlighted that, at a meeting earlier this year, the budget mitigations, including a recruitment freeze, were approved by “all elected members present”.

They said: “This included the temporary recruitment freeze, which means that vacancies are not routinely filled.

“The report members’ considered specifically stated that this ‘will mean that some facilities may have to be closed and that service delivery will be directly affected’.

“This approval and the current budget situation is the basis on which all further actions are based.

“These are pragmatic decisions to allow us to deliver necessary financial savings while continuing to provide services.

“The council is no longer able to deliver its library services in the same way and the teams have been working to find new ways to deliver provision to keep facilities open, albeit at reduced hours.

“Our larger libraries provide a wider range of services relating to housing, council tax, benefits and they operate as payment desks.

“These opening hours are being maintained in line with our priorities to direct support to those most in need.”

A survey offering people the chance to have their say about the decision has also been created.

To have your say, go to craighoy.co.uk/campaigns/protect-future-our-local-libraries