PLANS to close council offices in Aldhammer House in Prestonpans and move council services into the town’s library have been put out for public consultation.

The proposals from East Lothian Council would see part of the library turned into interview rooms and offices, to be used by East Lothian Council.

Services currently offered from the current location would be transferred.

In the consultation, the council said the proposals would “regenerate the existing library in Prestonpans into a new shared facility, delivering a wider range of council and partner services to the public”.

Prestonpans Community Council has lodged an objection to the idea, saying it will remove part of the library’s facilities.

Jimmy Yule, community council chairman, told members he and the secretary were asked to a meeting where the plans were revealed.

He criticised what he saw as a lack of publicity given to the public consultation, lack of information available and the length of time given to people to have their say.

He said: “The library is a famous library and should be used for the community and nobody else.”

Prestonpans Library was built in 1905 through funds from Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who wanted to give hard-working communities libraries they could use. People in Prestonpans raised the money to buy 3,000 books to fill their library.

In 2007, it was given a makeover by East Lothian Council, with a £780,000 refurbishment.

The local authority said moving council services into the library would extend its opening hours from 32 hours a week to 46.

However, plans to relocate the library computer room to allow for council offices were criticised,with community councillors claiming many people looking for jobs used the computers and often had a long wait to get on them.

And they raised concerns that regular school visits could be affected because of the introduction of interview rooms where confidential discussion might take place.

It is understood Aldhammer House will have the former rent offices upstairs converted into flats, a one-level apartment for someone with disabilities created in the area formerly used for weddings and the ground floor will be turned into a commercial property for lease.

Library plans are on display at Aldhammer House and Prestonpans Library and the online consultation can be found at eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/policy-partnerships/proposed-changes-to-prestonpans-library-and-aldham/consult_view

The community council invited a council representative to its their next meeting to provide more information.

It urged others to make their views known and fill in the consultation feedback forms.

The consultation closes on June 10.