9:27am Friday 19th March 2010
By Nigel Kerton
The library in Pewsey is due to close on April 1, two months later than planned, so that demolition can begin.
The old prefabricated library building that has served the village for the past 30 years is not big enough and has reached the end of its useful life.
A replacement building was proposed but at the 11th hour, on the day the library was due to close in January, the Wiltshire cabinet member for libraries, John Thomson, put the closure on hold and told officers to look at providing more facilities.
The new £900,000, bigger and better library will be the first in the county to provide specialist facilities for people with severe physical disabilities and will also incorporate a meeting room where people can arrange to meet council officers.
Work to demolish the existing library, in Aston Close, will start on April 16 with a target of completing the new build by Christmas.
Meanwhile temporary library facilities will be provided from April 17 from a mobile library in the Bouverie Hall car park.
The new library will be the first in Wiltshire to offer a personal care room, providing washing and changing facilities for adults and children with severe physical disabilities.
The room will be available to everyone, not just those visiting the library.
The council has committed to providing personal care rooms across the county in public buildings, the one at Pewsey being the first in Wiltshire.
Outside, the library will have solar panels on the roof to generate electricity and support the heating system, defraying its running costs.
Coun Thomson said: “It is very exciting that work will be starting soon on the new library, which will be a superb facility for the local community.
“We are very pleased that we have been able to secure extra facilities that will benefit the local community including the personal care room.”
Parish council chairman Alex Carder said: “Pewsey has waited a long time for its new library and, although there will be an extra delay because of the additional facilities, it will be worth waiting for.”
This sentiment is echoed by staff and borrowers. Maureen Kearney, 81, who borrows audio tapes rather than books, said: “When I came to Pewsey in 1952 the library was in a small shop in the High Street and they promised the village a new library then so I am looking forward to it very much.”
Les Lucas 93, who moved to Pewsey a few months ago, said: “It will be very helpful to have a bigger library and I hope it will be open for longer.”
The library’s two assistant librarians Kathryn Hutchinson and Nikki Brennan said they were looking forward to the bigger facilities. “Most definitely,” said Mrs Hutchinson, adding that the library hours would be slightly extended.”
Ms Brennan said: “I think it’s going to be fantastic.”
The opening hours for the temporary service will be: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; Fridays 2pm to 5pm, Saturdays 10am to 1pm.
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