ABERGAVENNY is to get a new purpose built library fit for the 21st Century at a cost of £3.5 million.

The decision was made last week by members of Monmouthshire's cabinet

who confirmed that the new library and associated facilities were to be provided on the current livestock market site as part of the Morrisons redevelopment of the area.

The library's construction will be funded from the capital receipts generated from sale of the site.

Members considered that a modern library provides an accessible, high quality service which complies with Assembly guidelines.

Councillor Bob Greenland (pictured), cabinet member for Modernisation, Enterprise and Communications presented the report and said afterwards, "I am very pleased that having a modern library in Abergavenny has been approved by the cabinet.

"The decision honours a long standing commitment to the local community by this Conservative administration.

"It's a large financial commitment that the authority is making but the new facility is desperately needed as the Baker Street is too small and not viable in this electronic age."

A wide ranging public consultation exercise was conducted last autumn which identified majority public support from the public and the project itself has been the subject of in-depth consultation through the Abergavenny Library Consultation Group.

Since the inception of the Abergavenny Livestock Market Regeneration Scheme, there has been a political commitment to provide a new library in replacement for the existing substandard facility.

However, the increased size of provision is estimated to add £60,000 per annum to the libraries revenue budget over the current operation in the Victorian building.

As a result planning officers are considering a number of options for the potential for a wider use of the premises in determining the internal design of the building so as to allow for a wider use of the facilities to secure an income stream intended to offset the increased revenue costs.

The library will be of modern design and construction incorporating sustainable features.

It is intended to be of low energy consumption and consideration is being given to the use of surplus heat from the superstore.

Work to build the new library is likely to start at the same time as Morrisons builds its store on the site.

But these projects cannot start until the replacement cattle market has been built and the Abergavenny Improvements Acts, restricting development on the site, have been repealed.