A TOWN’S library could be sold off and houses built in its place, it has emerged.

A consultation is being undertaken as to where the Pershore library service will be in the future because the existing building in Church Street needs £130,000 in repairs.

With Worcestershire County Council looking for savings it says the repair bill is too high and is exploring other options including re-homing the service.

Wychavon District Council believes moving the library to the Pershore Civic Centre on the town centre’s outskirts is the most cost-effective option.

The county council’s libraries’ manager Kathy Kirk has previously said the Civic Centre is “currently the option we are focusing on”, although no decision has yet been made.

It has now emerged one option could be to use the library site, together with the neighbouring former health centre site in Lower Priest Lane for one large housing development.

Wychavon has been in talks with housing provider Rooftop Housing for some time regarding turning its site over for affordable housing.

There is an “obligation” dating from the opening of the town’s new hospital that some of the old health centre’s parking spaces can be used by hospital staff, and the site is in a conservation area.

However Vic Allison, Wychavon’s deputy managing director, said there had been a discussion on developing the site as a whole.

He said: “It’s an option, and I stress the word option, to include the library building as part of the development. Our redevelopment could go ahead on its own, though.

“And we cannot predetermine the consultation on Pershore library.”

He said affordable housing was “a priority” for the district council in the town.

Asked if money from the health’s centre sale alone could be used to save the library, he said the problem could not be fixed with a sticking plaster.

“What we want is a sustainable library service in the town,” he said.

He said any profit from the development of the health centre site would be minimal if sold for affordable housing.

Worcestershire County Council said it could not comment on any possible future use of the site before the end of its consultation.

l Worcestershire County Council is seeking the views of Wychavon residents about its plan to move Pershore library.

A short questionnaire is available from the library, civic centre or town hall. Alternatively, visit worcestershire.gov.uk/pershorelibrary

The deadline for responses is Friday, April 22.