A COUNCILLOR has expressed his concern that some of East Lothian's libraries could close following the introduction of temporary opening hours at several of them. 

Last month, five libraries – Cockenzie and Port Seton, East Linton, Gullane, Longniddry and Ormiston – had their hours slashed for the winter, as Councillor Lachlan Bruce said he did not believe the measures were "temporary" as East Lothian Council claimed.

During a meeting of Prestonpans Community Council last Tuesday, ward councillor Neil Gilbert told members that he had been inundated with residents worried about the introduction of temporary hours. 

READ MORE: Five libraries have hours slashed; councillor fears cuts will never be reversed

He spoke about that closures of libraries in Perth and Kinross as he mentioned the looming Scottish Government budget expected on Wednesday. 

The SNP councillor for Preston Seton Gosford ward said: "I am not saying East Lothian is at that stage but we are under the same financial pressures of every other council in Scotland. 

"Eighty per cent of library costs are staffing costs; now if there was a library to close in the ward, which one would it be? I'm not saying it is going to happen but if there was, I think this one, the Prestonpans one, has history there, but the most used library in the ward is Longniddry."

After a short discussion from members, Mr Gilbert added: "There is the possibility libraries may close, and maybe even more than that, but we don't know what the budget will be. 

"If it comes down to a choice, ward by ward, one library needs to close, which one would it be?" 

Community councillor Jess Wilson said in response: "The way you are wording it is not very nice to hear, as people who are residents of the most deprived area of East Lothian, to hear you saying 'which one will it be?'"

"It is not a very nice way of putting it." 

Mr Gilbert responded: "No libraries might close, I am just putting it out there, hours have been temporarily reduced and, under current circumstances, I can't see that being reversed." 

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “We recognise that there have been a number of temporary reductions in opening hours for some of our libraries across the past year and do not take lightly the impact that these and the latest reductions will have on communities.

"East Lothian Council has been clear about the scale of the financial challenges that we are facing and the impacts that delivering £56m of necessary budget savings between 2024/25 and 2028/29 will have on service delivery.

"Temporary recruitment measures were implemented in August 2023 as part of urgent mitigations to reduce a forecast overspend for 2023/24 financial year and these remain in place. This means that not all vacancies within our local libraries will be filled and we have a reduced staffing team to cover absence and leave. We recently announced temporary winter opening hours.

"This will be kept under review and, if we are able to increase opening times before the end of February, we will do so.

"Our larger libraries have a dual role in providing support for council enquiries, in particular to those in most need, therefore we are protecting opening hours in those locations.

"We anticipate receiving the draft settlement from Scottish Government on December 12 and the budget council agrees in February will be based on this.”