PLANS to close Musselburgh Library and move it into The Brunton are to be looked into as part of an East Lothian Council review of how it uses public buildings.

The proposals were revealed by Councillor Fraser McAllister during a meeting of the council’s cabinet this week, where councillors were discussing changes to the mobile library service.

Mr McAllister, who represents Musselburgh West, said he had been concerned by reports of a feasibility study being carried out into the future of the library, which sits on Bridge Street.

He said: “I have been told it will be closed and the facility moved into The Brunton, into an area which represented seven per cent of the space it currently occupies, and the building on Bridge Street turned into housing.

“This is a real concern for me and the people in my ward. Libraries are a fundamental part of our communities and must be maintained, not reduced or removed.”

East Lothian Council confirmed it was planning to carry out an investigation into the future of the library following a review of ‘Face to Face Services’ it carried out in 2013.

A spokesperson said: “The report (from that review) in November 2013 made a series of recommendations, one of which was to review Musselburgh Library.

“This was because within the current building disabled access could be improved and it has no public toilets.

“There is to be a feasibility study probably in the autumn to see whether the library could be co-located within The Brunton or within any other public building in Musselburgh. “This is part of a larger Joint Asset Management Strategy. There will be involvement with the area partnership, the community council and the local community once this project commences.”

Councillor Stuart Currie, leader of the council’s opposition SNP group, and a Musselburgh East ward councillor, said his party had looked at moving the library into The Brunton when it had been in administration at the council a number of years ago but had considered turning a wing of the building over to the library.

He said: “We looked at it but were considering a large part of the building which would have increased the size of the library; this proposal is talking about little more than a few cupboards filled with books.

“Given the success of the Reading is Braw initiative in Musselburgh at the moment and the work to encourage literacy which has been so well supported by the community and local businesses, it seems a real step back to consider such a move now.”