HASLEMERE'S new library could be open for business by 2009, if Surrey County Council's planning committee gives its approval. Surrey's executive member for safe and stronger communities, Christine Stevens, told last week's Haslemere Town Council finance and general purposes committee meeting that she had requested an update on the planning application for the new library from county council officers. Mrs Stevens told the meeting: "The target is to submit it to the planning committee in June of this year. I am further advised that assuming a successful June application, and a straightforward common land exchange, the draft programme would deliver the building in mid-to-late 2009. "Some research is currently being done on drainage for the car park area, as the outcome of that work could have a significant impact on costs. It is also necessary to ensure that what is proposed will not create any environmental problems. The reason for not going to committee sooner has been because of the work to understand both the sustainability requirements under planning and the projected budget." She added: "The planning process for new libraries is usually lengthy, and Haslemere is an exceptionally complex project. It has taken a considerable time to replace two other library buildings in my executive portfolio, but I am delighted that the new Knaphill library will be open to the public on March 20 and the new Walton library is scheduled to open in the autumn. "New buildings are part of a range of library service improvements in Surrey. "I am particularly proud about the successful library card for the under fives launched last December." Maisy, the mouse from the books by Lucy Cousins, adorns the new Maisy library card that allows young library users to borrow up to nine board books or picture books, and other items such as talking books. In the first month, libraries across the county registered 1,200 children under five as new borrowers. Seventy-five of these were registered at Haslemere library. l THE new library and youth centre complex is scheduled to be built at the front of the Fair Ground site in Wey Hill. The design creates separate entrances for the library and the youth centre, although both would share a computer suite. It will also house a coffee bar, and internet access will also be available. The proposed building will sit on common land. Mrs Stevens said: "It's a land swap issue. If you use one bit, you have to make provision for it somewhere else. There also needs to be provision for the twice-yearly fair held at Wey Hill." The building will replace the Wey Centre and existing library at the bottom of Wey Hill. "It's a joint council project. Waverley owns the Wey Centre and Surrey County Council lease it on a long lease," said Mrs Stevens. Waverley has said it would like to Tarmac the ground behind the new library for use as a car park. l AT the same meeting, town councillors heard about plans to re-open The Wey Centre for use by the town's young people until the new youth centre is built. In response to calls for assurances from Jacqui Keen that The Wey Centre would remain open after May, Mrs Stevens said: "I pressed to have The Wey Centre re-opened because of the delays to the new scheme, and we now have an idea about how long it might actually take to build if all goes well. So it is clear that The Wey Centre would certainly be useful well into 2009. "If it is a great success, who knows what may be possible? Let us get it open and plan the future with young people themselves."
