A proposal to explore creating core library/area and community hubs is to be considered by East Lothian councillors at a meeting next week.
Council officers have been carrying out a project to review properties that deliver, or have the potential to deliver, general face-to-face services. This includes looking at potential for bringing services together under one roof where the public can speak either face-to-face with an advisor or through enhanced digital connectivity, access a library, computers and bookable rooms.
New approaches to how buildings are operated could help ensure the council has good quality, well used facilities within local communities offering modern and flexible facilities to meet the needs of residents.
There could also be opportunities for communities to take over the running of some buildings – such as by leasing them, community asset transfer or looking at opportunities with community planning partners and others.
Like other local authorities, the council continues to face a number of budgetary challenges with rising demand for services and increased costs at the same time as its government grant, which makes up around 75% of its income, falling in real terms.
For this reason, the council has already approved a number of savings which includes £3.6m from reducing current operational running costs, alongside £23.4m capital receipts. In order to address these challenges, the council’s place making project is focused on ensuring the council operates good quality buildings in a sustainable and efficient way.
Key proposals
Following engagement earlier this year with community partners the public and building users, a report to Tuesday’s full meeting of East Lothian Council proposes further local engagement on a community-by-community basis, including proposals that:
- Officers develop an outline business case to present options and costings for the creation of six core library and area hubs
- Officers consider alternative service delivery models at some existing libraries, community centres and village halls – including Haddington and Dunbar town houses - in partnership with local communities
- Work takes place to establish the feasibility of relocating North Berwick Youth Project to a former nursery adjacent to North Berwick Community Centre
Library and area hubs
Based on previous community feedback and engagement, it is proposed that a network of library and area hubs, generally located within the largest town of each local area, is created. These would bring together face-to-face and information services under one roof to improve service delivery through a trauma informed approach, including library provision. These would be designed as accessible facilities with good access to public transport and support footfall for local businesses.
Rural library premises could be made available to consider and explore alternative delivery of library services with increased community use and management. These would be East Linton Library, Ormiston Library, Gullane Library, Longniddry Library and Port Seton Library. Before making any changes, a statutory consultation would be carried out.
Dunbar’s Bleachingfield Centre and Tranent’s George Johnstone Centre are models for how library and area hubs could be developed elsewhere in East Lothian at existing buildings such as North Berwick Library and Coastal Communities Museum, Prestonpans Library and John Muir House, Haddington. Feasibility work to develop Musselburgh Old Town Hall into a library and area hub is also proposed.
Separately, councillors agreed in August that work on ensuring accommodation for the arts in Musselburgh and exploring opportunities to finance a replacement of the Brunton Hall is to progress
The report also proposes that the council engages with community organisations to assess the viability of a community asset transfer for Haddington Town House, with the council chambers potentially being incorporated within John Muir House.
Consideration will also be required of potential provision to meet future needs at Wallyford and Blindwells.
Community hubs
It is proposed that communities have the opportunity to take on greater responsibility for operation and possibly ownership of some community centres and village halls, with officers keen to support groups in building the necessary skills and capacity. Buildings which offer the potential for a revised operating model are Macmerry Village Hall, Ormiston Community Centre, Trevelyan Hall in Pencaitland, Nungate and Haddington Community Centre, Haddington Town House, Whitecraig Village Hub, North Berwick Community Centre, Gullane Recreation Hall, Longniddry Community Centre and Library, Pennypit Centre in Prestonpans, Port Seton Centre and Library and Prestonpans Community Centre.
The report also describes how feedback on Dunbar Town House has indicated a community desire to unlock benefits from greater commercialisation of the building, with there being tremendous potential for visual arts activity.
No decisions on proposals for any of these buildings have been at this time. If councillors approve the recommendations from officers at Tuesday’s council meeting, it is expected that engagement with communities and building users would take place throughout 2026 before decisions on the way ahead are taken.