INVESTMENT of almost £60,000 has been allocated to be spent on improvements at Ross-on-Wye library.

The money will be spent on providing a kitchen for hire use, a new meeting room, a reduction in counter size and the relocation of desks.

Herefordshire Council, which is providing the investment, hopes that the changes will result in the building being used to generate income through further hire use.

The council has chosen Owen Pell Ltd to carry out the work for £57,687.80.

The council has allocated a total of £97,000 to spend on the libraries in Ross, Leominster and Belmont.

The works at the Ross library will also support changes in customer services delivered by Herefordshire Council and the introduction of Universal Credit by the Department of Works and Pensions, as Job Centre+ is located at the library paying a rent.

Other expenditure will take place which is not included in this quote, for example, white goods, IT, furniture, etc.

There is a second phase of works for Ross Library, linked to the Ryefield children’s centre relocating. The council said the phases could have been merged but a business case is still required for the move of the children’s centre services.

It is hoped the children's services will be provided at the library and the Old Chapel, with the county council leasing the Old Chapel from Ross Town Council.