PLANS have been finalised for Great Dunmow s new library to be located on White Street. The new building will form part of the redevelopment of the area around the Co-op, which includes resurfacing work and a car park extension. Jenny Salisbury, strategic

PLANS have been finalised for Great Dunmow's new library to be located on White Street.

The new building will form part of the redevelopment of the area around the Co-op, which includes resurfacing work and a car park extension.

Jenny Salisbury, strategic manager for west area libraries, told The Dunmow Broadcast: "It has taken a long time for this project to really get off the ground having faltered on three occasions, but we have finalised the plans and building will start very soon."

The building will have three floors; a library on the ground floor with two floors of social housing above.

Mrs Salisbury said: "We hope to have the shell of the building built by May next year, it will take a while to fit the library internally, but our aim is to be finished by September 2008."

The build is an ambitious one for the town as new technology will be installed that will make it possible for library users to issue books for themselves and the building will contain meeting rooms and interview rooms for public use.

"We want to make it a real focal point for the community, by encouraging groups and clubs to use the facilities for smaller functions and meetings," said Mrs Salisbury.

"We will be making the plans for the new library available for public viewing at the current North Street library over the coming weeks. We really hope people will drop in and give us their thoughts on the project."

The decision to have a new library was taken on the basis that the current library in Dunmow isn't big enough.

Mrs Salisbury said. "The North Street site would have needed expanding anyway and the disabled access is non-existent. The new building will be in a much more central location and we can provide better parking facilities including more disabled spaces right next to the building."

By Nick Thompson

nick.thompson@archant.co.uk