£534,000 Kington Library refurbishment
Work on a £534,000 refurbishment scheme to breathe new life into Kington Library will start in the New Year.
Under the project, headed by Herefordshire Council, the second floor of the grade II listed building, in Bridge Street, will be opened up providing increased floor space.
An improved adult fiction section and reference library will be created, public toilets, including a disabled cubicle, installed and facilities improved for children, young people and special needs.
The Info Shop, Kington, which provides a first point of contact for council services, will be relocated from its current Mill Street home into the new library.
Other features include better provision of ICT facilities, the creation of meeting rooms for community groups and continued support and provision of resources for Kington History Society.
The main library entrance will also be modified and a lift installed making it easily accessible for disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
Contractors EC Joseph will start work on the scheme in January 2006 and it is hoped the refurbished building will be reopened next winter.
Kington Library will close on Christmas Eve and a temporary library will be opened in Mill Street car park, on January 24.
A Portacabin is already on site to allow the proper installation of IT facilities. The temporary library will carry forward the same opening times as the current facility.
The refurbishment scheme follows consultation with Kington Town Council, The Kington Area Regeneration Company, residents and other interested groups.
Cllr Roy Stockton, Cabinet Member (Community Services), said: “This project will provide a vastly improved facility for the whole of Kington and the surrounding hinterlands.
“As part of the relocation process into the temporary library facility in Mill Street car park, loan periods for borrowers will be extended during the closure period and users encouraged to use other libraries in Leominster and Weobley.
“The temporary library will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am – 5.30pm, and Thursdays and Saturdays between 10am – 1pm. The library will be closed on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays.”
For more details contact Kington Library on (01544) 230427.
