A library in Brighton closed unexpectedly for health and safety reasons today (Thursday 13 November).
Whitehawk Library and the Whitehawk Community Hub were closed until further notice – as was the Portslade Hub.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that the closures were temporary.
The council said: “Due to a health and safety risk, the Whitehawk Community Hub and Library, in Whitehawk Road, and the Portslade Hub, in Mile Oak Road, will be closed from Thursday 13 November until further notice.
“The North and South Portslade Family Hubs are open as usual, as are our other family hubs.
“If you need an alternative library, visit our libraries and opening times webpage.
“We’re very sorry for any inconvenience.”
On social media, the council said: “Previous visitors don’t need to worry about the closure, but we kindly ask that people avoid visiting for now.”
Why are they not saying what the health and safety issue is? If the council genuinely does not want previous visitors to worry, why are they not saying exactly what the problem is.
The lack of detail certainly enables speculation, which, in my experience, can become quite fantastical. Getting some detail out there will go a long way to grounding discussion.
There must be a good reason why more information is not forthcoming, as silence does encourage conspiracy ideas. However, better to have the full story at the right time than a half story that just increases uncertainty. It is clearly more than your average health and safety related matter.
I cannot think of one single good reason for not putting the information out there now.
They obviously want to close them and are leading up to that.
Why would they want to close them as they’re relatively newer buildings, the site doesn’t allow for much redevelopment due to its location and size, suggest we wait for the full story to unravel before making assumptions.
Asbestos or RAK or possibly Legionnaires in the water system. “Temporary” allows for all of those. The council needs to simply state what the issue is.
They did
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2025/whitehawk-hub-and-portslade-hub-reopening
“The closure followed threats to the buildings from an individual.”
It also explains why they couldn’t elaborate earlier; because they cannot describe ongoing police or threat-assessment activity until it’s formally resolved. Standard protocol.
The council have a duty to be transparent. It is not optional. Now stop treating us like children and be honest. What is the problem with this Library?
Read my post!