THE cost of removing asbestos and carrying out a backlog of maintenance work at Hereford library will cost £1 million.

The Broad Street building has been closed since September when traces of asbestos were discovered.

Herefordshire Council has today said the options for the library will be debated by the council's Cabinet on December 3 when the costs to sustain and improve the building will be taken into consideration.

The council says the £1 million is outlined in its capital programme with members set to consider if there is an opportunity to use that funding to work with the community on an improved library.

Members will also be asked if it wants to hold discussions with representatives of the Hereford Library Users Group "to see if their ambitions for a modern library with a range of other facilities could be realised if there was a wider fundraising campaign".

Councillor Harry Bramer, cabinet member for contracts and assets, said: “We recognise that libraries are important to people and we aim to work with the library user group and other interested parties to explore what is possible and make the most of any money available.”

The authority says work is close to completion to adapt a room at Hereford Town Hall to create a temporary library by November 24.