CHANGES to a Grade II listed library look set to be delayed after councillors voted to “immediately call a halt” to the proposed works.

Councillors at Brighton and Hove City Council’s meeting on Thursday night voted for the plans for Hove Library to be halted after criticism from residents and conservation groups about how the planning process was handled.

A dozen objections were made to the planning application, with some stating the proposed changes to the ground floor of the library would damage the historic internal fittings and character of the building.

Robert Nemeth, Tory councillor for Wish ward, raised concerns at the meeting about the planning application being dealt with in an “underhand way”.

Cllr Nemeth said: “I think a cross-party working group should sit down with concerned parties.

“I do not think the planning committee should have allowed this to slip through without democratic oversight.”

Other Conservative councillors also called for the planned works not to be carried out until the cross-party Hove Library working group, which they argue was not consulted about the proposal last year, has the chance to be heard by council officers.

They argued that there was not an adequate level of scrutiny by councillors or residents over the proposals before planning officers approved them last month.

Conservative councillor Geoffrey Theobald, said he was “impressed” when he visited the library and he came away determined to do everything he could to save it.

He also accused the Labour group of “instructing officers” to put the planning application in.

Cllr Theobald said: “The Labour Party for some reason dislike this building, they dislike this library.”

Councillor Julie Cattell, chairwoman of the council’s planning committee, previously said only four objections were received in the proper timeframe, leading to the decision being handed to planning officers.

Labour councillor Emma Daniel said “We received no ward councillor objections.

“In the motion put before us, it says members weren’t consulted.

“Every member was notified of the plans.”

Tory and Green councillors shot down a proposed amendment by Labour members not to halt the proposals, which instead called for the cross-party working group to “revisit” its discussions on the issue last month.

The planned works include removing bookshelves to make way for an office space and adding external ventilation to the building.

The council also voted to request that Councillor Alan Robins, chairman of the tourism, development and culture committee, call on officers to produce a report on the way the planning application was displayed over the Christmas holidays.