THE future of Ledbury’s long-awaited new library project will not be known until December as Herefordshire Council digests the implications of last week’s comprehensive spending review (CSR).

Major cuts to public services and local councils were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Wednesday October 20.

The £2.9m library project, which would see a new home for services adjacent to the Master’s House in St Katherine’s, has been on hold for over a year generating frustration from town councillors and members of the public alike.

Work had been expected to begin on the build early this year after several weeks of public consultation in 2009.

Adrian Blackshaw, Herefordshire Council’s portfolio holder for economic development and community services, said: “We will not know the full implications of the CSR until some time in December. It will be by the time we finish the options review for a full range of issues.”

Town councillor Allen Conway said that after a year of waiting for concrete news on the ambitious project he was “not surprised” he would have to wait another few weeks.

He said Herefordshire Council’s attempts to save money were already evident and feared the library may be just another victim of belt-tightening.

“They’re desperately trying to unload anything that they have got to spend money on.”