AN INCREASE in the costs of operation of the proposed new library for Abergavenny means Monmouthshire County Council are looking at other uses to be included in the facility.

At a full council meeting last week, councillors made the final decision to build a new £3.5 million library in Abergavenny.

However, future revenue costs are estimated to add an additional £60,000 per annum to the libraries revenue budget over the current operation in the Victorian building.

As a result officers have been authorised to consider the potential for a wider use of the premises in determining the internal design and spatial allocation of the building in order to offset the increased revenue costs.

One suggestion put forward was to move Abergavenny's Tourist Information Centre from its current building at the bus station into the new library to be built on the cattle market site.

County Councillor Bob Greenland, cabinet member for Modernisation, Enterprise and Communications, said at the meeting, "The Tourist Information Centre could move to the site but it would have to been done jointly with Brecon Beacon National Park.

"If we able to do that, it would help us with the financing."

A wide ranging consultation conducted last autumn identified majority support for a new library from the public and the project itself has been the subject of in-depth consultation through the Abergavenny Library Consultation Group.

Councillor John Prosser said, "I support the proposals. The people of Abergavenny have been promised a library and are looking forward to having a state of the art one."

County Councillor Doug Edwards added, "As the member of the ward where the existing library is, I support it as the existing building is 100 years old.

"Many people in my ward don't approve of it as they like the one they have. But we have to move on."

Speaking after the meeting, County Councillor Greenland said, "I believe that we are the only local authority in the UK that is planning to build a new library.

"As well as spearheading the regeneration of Abergavenny through the provision of a new supermarket, we will give Abergavenny a state of the art library."