Save Rottingdean Library

We must save Rottingdean Library from closure

Rottingdean library in the Grange is at the heart of our community, and used by all parts of it. Having a local library helps to build an early connection to books and learning for children. There are two nurseries and two primary schools within an easy walk of our library.

After Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) announced their plan to close 3 of 15 libraries in Brighton, Sarah Craven-Antill, a Rottingdean resident and mother of two young children, started a petition with change.org to save our library.   

As not everyone has ready access to the internet it was decided to set up a paper petition and this was placed outside the library.  By now, local residents had started to want to support this cause - the response was overwhelming, and so a group -  ‘Save Rottingdean Library’ was set up with the aim of continuing to raise awareness and to be a point of contact for communication with BHCC, Rottingdean Parish Council (RPC) and Rottingdean Heritage (RH).

Since BHCC decided to consult on Rottingdean library closing we let everyone we could know about the consultation being run on the proposed closure and hoped that as many people as possible will try to influence this decision and help save our library. There was an incredible response from Rottingdean, with hundreds of residents signing the petition, responding to the consultation, and coming along to the meetings with BHCC in the village. 

BHCC voted on 11th December on the future of the three local libraries threatened, deciding to close two of them in Westdene and Hollingbury. Rottingdean has been given a reprieve for a year, and BHCC suggest they will talk to community groups about finding an alternative. But we have already told BHCC, having researched this for ourselves, that a community run alternative is just not feasible or practical for us. 

The other alternatives suggested by BHCC if Rottingdean library closes are not practical. Getting to Saltdean library by public transport involves a bus trip and crossing the A259 twice. Make that two buses for users from Ovingdean. That's just not feasible for groups of small children, parents pushing double buggies, or many customers with disabilities. Or they suggest more 'at home' visits for older users - cutting them off from the community.

We will keep on fighting to save Rottingdean library as part of the statutory library service in Brighton and Hove. And we're supporting campaigners from other areas with their next steps. 

How can I help?

The consultation phase on the library closures has ended. Our response is here . 

Following Brighton and Hove's decision on 11th December, the campaign group is now considering how best to support use of Rottingdean library and to ensure its future for the long term. Watch this space for our next steps.

In the meantime, you can help at the very least by carrying on using your local library, borrow a book or drop in to monthly storytime sessions. 

You can also still let Councillors know what you think about their decision to close local libraries in Brighton and Hove, and the need to keep Rottingdean library as part of the libraries network. A list of Councillors on the Cabinet who decided to close libraries is below. 

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