CULTURE chiefs in York have now received planning permission for their £540,000 revamp of the Central Library.

As reported in The Press this week, City of York Council was criticised for closing the library before securing full permission from the Government, but that authority was granted that same day.

Nigel Ayre, the council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said: “Final sign-off on the listed building consent was delayed for a week while the Government officer who was dealing with the case was on holiday. The officer has now returned from holiday and we received consent on Wednesday.

“While awaiting for the formal sign off we started the essential preparatory, clearing-out work so that when the formality of listed building consent came in this week we could hand over the building to the contractor as planned.”

He said the project was on track for the library to reopen in April.