WELLINGTON’S public library will reopen in temporary new premises at 9.30 am on Monday (June 19), a week earlier than originally planned.

But costs for renovating the Fore Street library building have continued to soar, with Somerset Council now having to find another £100,000.

The 10-month refit project was initially costed at £900,000 but jumped to £1.3 million, and now has been put at £1.4 million, a 55 per cent increase.

The town centre library closed on May 5 and was due to reopen in a temporary home in the former over-60s club in North Street, opposite the town’s fire station, on June 26.

But Somerset Libraries head Darren Smart said this week the North Street premises would now be ready a week early.

Mr Smart said all items on loan would be automatically renewed to at least July 17 to give library users extra time in which to return them after the reopening.

He said: “If you have items out that are overdue prior to closure, they will be automatically renewed, but you will have the overdue charge to pay.”

Library members will also be able from June 21 to request the temporary Wellington premises as a reservation location.

Books can be returned to any other Somerset library and they can be renewed or return dates checked via www.librarieswest.org.uk or by using the LibrariesWest app.

Mr Smart said the temporary Wellington opening hours would be 9.30 am to 5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and until 1 pm on Thursday and Saturday.

However, he warned that services could change at short notice.

Work on refitting the town centre premises is due to start in earnest in August, with the library moving back some time late next year.

The fabric of the building, which dates to the early 1800s and has been operating as a library since 1969, will be substantially upgraded and accessibility improved across all three floors of the property.

An accessible toilet and baby changing facilities and a meeting room will be added to the ground floor.

Somerset Council expects a number of other agencies to use the property once it reopens, including health services.