Council removes children's library campaign poster

Artwork in favouring of keeping Rottingdean Library open had been put up in the building

A children's poster supporting efforts to keep an East Sussex library open has been removed by the council in an effort to maintain a "neutral space" during the consultation into its future.

Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) is consulting on whether to close the Rottingdean, Hollingbury and Westdene libraries to save £210,000 from its annual £3.7m library budget over two years.

Sarah Craven-Antill, from the The Save Rottingdean Library Campaign group, said she was "dismayed" the poster had been removed.

Councillor Alan Robins, cabinet member for sport, recreation and libraries, said: "The poster was removed as we want to keep our libraries a neutral space while the consultation is live."

Ms Craven-Antill said she had written a message on social media asking "young people to make posters supporting the campaign".

While the campaigner did not suggest posting posters up in the library, she said she was "overjoyed" to see young people "taking action".

Rottingdean library is the sixth most visited out of 13 in Brighton and Hove, with nearly 29,000 visitors per year.

Closing the library, which is based in the 17th Century Grange building, would save BHCC £25,000 per year.

BHCC has encouraged residents to take part in the consultation and said a final decision was yet to be made.

There is a consultation drop-in at the library on 9 September where the proposed closure will be discussed.

"I hope as many people as possible come to that drop-in - it's about showing the strength of support," Ms Craven-Antill said.

A petition set up by locals calling for the library to remain open has received more than 3,000 signatures.

The consultation is open until 10 October.