A REVAMPED town centre could soon boast a new library if plans to relocate the existing service are approved.

Durham County Council hopes to convert four vacant shop units next to Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre into a library and customer access point.

It is also seeking permission to move the entrance of the leisure centre into the town’s main shopping street, Beveridge Way, and create a shared reception desk for both services.

Newton Aycliffe Library has been operating out of a portable cabin on Central Avenue for five years after the old health centre building that housed it was knocked down. An Aldi supermarket was later built on the site.

The council now wants to create a permanent home for the library in a more accessible location, while transforming the leisure centre reception into a light and welcoming space.

A customer access point will also be accommodated on an appointment only basis for residents to talk to council staff about issues such as council tax and housing benefit.

The application comes weeks before the start of the third phase of a multi-million pound scheme to revitalise Newton Aycliffe’s main shopping area.

Town centre owners the Freshwater Group plans to demolish Churchill House and the connecting shops next month to create a high street style shopping plaza.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, whose constituency office is located in the town centre, said: “The long term plan has always been to move the library into the leisure centre and enhance the space we have available there.

“It’s all part of the plan to make the town centre a more pleasant and welcoming space.

“I welcome these plans. It will be great to have a permanent home for the library again.”

The proposed library would have a floor space of about 400m² and would accommodate six members of staff and 30 visitors.

The reception desk, interview room, staff room, office and toilet facilities would be shared with the leisure centre.

In a document submitted with the application, Sarah Kelford, project architectural technician for Durham County Council, said: “The main access to the leisure centre has been located to provide maximum impact from the street.

“The entrance faces directly into the newly refurbished square and was chosen to provide natural visitor amenity.

“The visitor enters a spacious reception area via a large glaze lobby. The reception desk sits straight ahead in a prominent position visible from the street.

The public have until Wednesday, March 11, to comment on the application online at durham.gov.uk