Sawston: New Library After College Fire

6 February 2013, 12:11 | Updated: 6 February 2013, 12:22

Plans for a new, temporary library at Sawston Village College have been approved after the old building was destroyed in a fire.

The fire [pictured - right], which broke out in September last year, also damaged an administration block at the college.

Fire investigations revealed it started accidentally, and was mostly likely caused by a hot-air gun that was being used to redecorate windows.

Since the fire, a mobile library has been visiting the college twice a week.

Now, Cambridgeshire County Council has given planning permission for a new temporary library to be built on the college site.

Building work is expected to start shortly, and it's hoped the new library will be ready for use from early March.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Learning, Councillor David Harty said: "The mobile library has been very useful in the short term, but it’s not able to offer the wider range of services that the village needs. 

We’re very pleased we have been given planning permission to secure this alternative solution. 

The temporary building will provide as much space as the original building and will be able to house just as many books.  

Many of the books will be brand new, replaced from insurance funding."

The temporary library will eventually be replaced with a permanent building.