Brighton & Hove Councillors Slash Library Hours and Close Two Branches
Brighton & Hove is set for major library cuts after councillors approved hefty reductions in opening hours and agreed to close two community libraries from April 2026. The controversial move aims to save cash amid severe financial pressures heading into the 2026/27 budget.
Major Branches Lose Hours, Smaller Libraries Shut
The city’s flagship Jubilee Library will lose five hours weekly, shutting earlier on Monday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Hove Library faces the same reduction with earlier closures on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Meanwhile, the smaller Hollingbury and Westdene libraries will shut their doors for good.
Rottingdean Library, originally on the chopping block, will stay open—at least for now—with another review planned in 12 months after further talks with community groups.
Council Defends Cuts, Promises Support
“We appreciate these changes will disappoint many residents,” said Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sport, Recreation and Libraries, “but they are necessary. Brighton & Hove will still offer more library provision per resident than the national average, with 11 libraries, online resources, and a Home Delivery Service continuing.”
The council vowed to back communities losing libraries. At Hollingbury’s Old Boat Community Centre, book donations and digital inclusion projects will continue. At Westdene, next to the local primary school, officials are exploring ways to support pupils’ reading and encourage community-run library replacements via the Better Brighton & Hove Fund.
Public Consultation and Next Steps
The decision follows a 12-week public consultation from July to October 2025 after councillors earmarked £210,000 in library cuts earlier this year. Quiet periods at Jubilee and Hove informed the reduced hours, while closures were based on usage, coverage, and community needs.
The changes kick in from April 2026. Staff consultations will address rotas and site closures, while a new Libraries Strategy launching in 2026 aims to reshape Brighton & Hove’s library service future.
