£300,000 library revamp on cards

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has awarded Pocklington's library in Railway Street a cash boost to enhance its services in the town.

The improvements will involve it almost doubling in size to create extra space for computers, studying and a special area for teenagers.

But the expansion could mean Pocklington Town Council finding a new home.

East Riding is looking into expanding the library into the town council's offices next door. And they have asked the town's councillors to swap their site in Railway Street with the Old Courthouse in George Street.

But councillors are divided. Supporters say local people would benefit from the extra services the larger library would offer. But there are concerns that making the Old Courthouse a suitable venue for meetings could work out expensive for the town.

Deputy mayor George McManus said: "The Old Courthouse is probably going to need an awful lot of money spent on it. It is an old building that hasn't been particularly well looked after.

"We have been offered £16,000, but I think a lot more will need to be spent to bring the building up to standard. I don't want to see the town council being left with a big liability."

But he totally supported the expansion of the library, saying: "The expansion of the library is long overdue and would bring enormous advantages to the town."

Town clerk Richard Wood said the council was keen to find out what local residents think.

The Old Courthouse, which was the town's magistrates court until it closed in 2001, was to open today between 10am and 2pm to give the public the chance to view the facilities and give their opinions on the scheme.

East Riding Council's libraries manager, Margaret Slattery, said: "The current library is cramped. The expansion would make the library more accessible for the disabled and we would be able to introduce facilities like a larger children's area and a separate IT suite."

Updated: 09:38 Saturday, March 01, 2003