COUNCIL bosses will make their final decision on reducing opening hours at nine libraries across the Bradford district next week.

A public consultation on cutting hours at Bradford Council owned libraries took place over this summer, and over 1,600 people had their say. Staff and unions were also consulted.

Overall the Council aims to reduce opening hours at nine libraries – Keighley, Ilkley, Bingley, Shipley, Manningham, Eccleshill, Laisterdyke, Wibsey and Wyke.

The consultation asked library users what they would prefer to see – libraries close for an hour over the lunch period, or libraries opening later/closing earlier.

Although many of the responses called for the libraries to keep their existing opening hours, closing earlier or opening later was the option chosen by the majority.

At next Tuesday’s meeting of Bradford Council’s Executive, members will be urged to chose the earlier closings over the lunchtime closings.

If approved, the changes would be introduced in April.

The planned changes at Ilkley Library would see the facility close at noon on Friday and change to 9.30am to 4.30pm opening hours on Saturday.

The opening hours at Hybrid and Community Managed libraries will not be impacted by this.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "This is part of savings that have to be made as proposed in the Council’s budget proposals for 2024/5 and is to achieve savings of £175,000 in 2025/6 financial year.

"We received 1,656 responses to the consultation with the clear preference being option two - earlier closing on Saturdays combined with additional reductions during the week."

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive member for Healthy People and Places, added: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and had their say on opening hours. We have been able to make an informed decision based on the information that our residents, who use the libraries service, provided.

“We don’t want to be having to make these changes but unfortunately, we have to make more savings and look at the services we provide and make some difficult decisions."