OPENING hours are to be cut at Keighley Library.

Members of Bradford Council's executive have approved plans to reduce hours at the North Street site and at nine other libraries across the district.

From next April, the Keighley premises will shut at noon on Fridays and at 4pm, instead of 5pm, on Saturdays.

The executive heard that district-wide, the move would save £175,000 in the 2025-6 financial year.

A public consultation attracted 1,656 responses, with the preferred option being earlier closing on Saturdays combined with additional reductions during the week.

The changes don't affect community-managed libraries.

Keighley, Ilkley, Bingley, Shipley, Manningham, Eccleshill, Laisterdyke, Wibsey and Wyke libraries all faced reduced hours and formed part of the consultation.

There were two options – that each library would close for an hour over lunchtime every day, or that there would be a half-day opening once a week.

At the executive meeting, members voted for the option that will see half-day openings, rather than lunchtime closures.

Councillors heard the majority of those who responded to the survey said they would prefer half-day openings one day a week rather than lunchtime closures every day of the week, which a number of consultees said would be confusing.

While some of the library users who responded acknowledged that much of the service would remain in place, others lamented any reduction to library times.

At the meeting, Jo Hinchliffe – assistant director for culture, sport and leisure – summarised the findings of the consultation, adding: “In total there will be an 11 per cent reduction in opening hours. The aim is to make sure we're protecting the service as much as possible.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, executive member for healthy people and places, said: “We have to give a big 'thank you' to all the people who took part in this consultation – it has been very important. We’ve taken quite a lot of learning from the feedback.

“The main thing is we keep a library service that is accessible for our community.

"We've 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. However, unfortunately, we have to make more savings."

City Library in Bradford wasn't initially included in the proposals, but consultation respondents suggested it should be, and it will open an hour later on Saturdays.