Essential work to stabilise the historic Northwich Library building has now begun.
Engineers have carried out external structural work to the historic building to ensure it is sound and ready for the start of a major internal renovation which will begin next year.
The scheme will transform the building for future generations of library users, while in the meantime the town’s library is due to be temporarily housed at Weaver Hall Museum.
Graham Pink, director of commercial management and delivery at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Over the past months, a team of historic building specialists and structural engineers have been working together to calculate how to sensitively support the building to allow conservation and repair work to be undertaken.
“This first phase of structural support work will allow the engineers to get up close to the building and design a scheme of structural repairs along its west elevation, which is suffering from some complex structural problems.
“This will safeguard this important historic building and architectural asset at the heart of Northwich town centre.”
The council has commissioned Recclesia Ltd to undertake the initial phase of the work, based on its experience of looking after historic buildings with complicated conservation and remedial repair requirements.
Recclesia will be working alongside structural engineers from Ramboll, specialist scaffolding engineers, Historic England, asbestos specialists, and qualified health and safety advisors.
So far a date has not been announced for the relocation to Weaver Hall Museum, but the council has confirmed there will be a self-service issue and return facility available at Brio Memorial Court.
Library services with extended opening hours are also being provided at Sandiway, Barnton and Weaverham libraries and loans from Northwich are being extended to 30th November 2022.
Library events and activities will be offered at Weaver Hall, Brio and other suitable locations in the town centre.
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