ALTERATION WORK is about to begin at Ross Library, the Gazette has learned, as it emerged that the contractors believe the deadlines laid down by Herefordshire Council are unachievable.

The first phase of the contentious reshaping project, which is being pushed through by the council's Property Services despite strong local opposition, is due to start on Monday, and will close to the public what is currently the Dennis Potter Room. The rest of the library will function as normal during this phase of the alterations.

As announced by council officials at a tense public meeting held there on October 19th, the room is to be converted into customer service counters and enclosed cubicles in order to house the town's Info Centre. Herefordshire Council has told the contractors to complete the reshaping work in just three months, a time frame that the contractors consider to be "extremely tight".

To read the full report see this week's Ross Gazette