The need to improve the Grade II listed Carnegie Building in Church Road in order to comply with the new Disability Discrimination Act sparked a fierce debate last year. The council proposed that the best solution would be to move it to the Town Hall. Public opinion opposed the move and now money has been found to upgrade the present site.

Money for the two-year programme is expected to come from the council's planned maintenance budget and property improvement fund.

The council aims to improve both library facilities and disabled access to the Grade II listed Carnegie Building in Church Road. The Disability Discrimination Act will require better access to be planned or in place by October this year.

Alterations will be scheduled around the closure of the temporary Brighton Library at Vantage Point, Preston Circus, and the opening on a new central library in Jubilee Street next spring.

External works in Hove will start around next January, finishing in April or May. The library will close for internal works once Brighton's new central library opens around March. Hove will reopen around August 2005.