Save Rottingdean Library
Save Rottingdean Library
This was the campaign site for the Save Rottingdean Library campaign and is now maintained as an archive. Go to the new site for the Friends of Rottingdean Library here to see our new plans
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We must save Rottingdean Library from closure
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?
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.
Latest protest
Latest protest
We continued our protest outside Hove Town Hall on 11th December before Cabinet met to decide the fate of three Brighton and Hove libraries. We were protesting together with Westdene. Sadly Councillors voted to close two of the threatened libraries, while Rottingdean has been given a reprieve for a year.
BHCC Cabinet meeting 11th Dec 2025
BHCC Cabinet meeting 11th Dec 2025
You can review the whole Cabinet meeting here
Lots of questions were asked by residents and by Opposition Councillors.
Latest Media coverage
Latest Media coverage
Who to write to?
Points to raise:
Who to write to?
Points to raise:
Your personal/ family experience of using Rottingdean library
Local impact on children and older people
Difficulty of access to alternative libraries
Importance of library as a village community hub for all
Chris Ward MP chris.ward.mp@parliament.uk
113 St Georges Road, Brighton, BN2 1EA
BHCC Council
Brighton & Hove City Council, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ, UK
BHCC Cabinet
Bella Sankey (Council Leader) Bella.Sankey@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Alan Robins (Sports, recreation and libraries) alan.robins@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Jacob Taylor (Finance and City Regeneration) Jacob.taylor@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Trevor Muten (Transport and City Infrastructure) trevor.muten@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Birgit Miller (Culture, Heritage and Tourism) Birgit.miller@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Mitchie Alexander (Communities, Equalities, Public and Adult Social Care) Mitchie.Alexander@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Emma Daniel (Children, Families and Youth Services) emma.daniel@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Tim Rokins (Net Zero and Environmental Services) Tim.Rowkins@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Jacob Allen (Customer Services and Public Realm) Jacob.Allen@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Gill Williams (Housing and New Homes) Gilliane.Williams@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Other Councillors
Alistair McNair (Leader Conservative group) Alistair.mcnair@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Steve Davis (Leader Green group) steve.davis@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Councillors for Rottingdean and West Saltdean
Bridget Fishleigh bridget.fishleigh@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Mark Earthey mark.earthey@brighton-hove.gov.uk
BHCC officials
Libraries team libraries@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Consultation contact point libraries.consultation@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Rottingdean Parish Council
Rottingdean Parish Council
The Gables,
6 Dean Court Road
Rottingdean
East Sussex
BN2 7DH
Mike Nixon Chair mike.nixon@rottingdean-pc.gov.uk
Names and email addresses for the other RPC councillors and clerk are all here https://www.rottingdean-pc.gov.uk/contact_us
Contact us
Contact us
Save Rottingdean Library campaign
saverottingdeanlibrarycampaign@gmail.com
Sarah Craven Antill
Dilys Brown
Patsy Dixon
Nicky Lloyd Owen/Boys
Caroline Ellis
Liz Broadley
Clare Hayes
Join us on Social Media
We're promoting the campaign on Social media - see our facebook page here and we're on Nextdoor and Instagram
Thank you for supporting our wonderful library
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