On Monday, developer Matt McCloskey, of Birmingham-based Property Solutions, said the first sod could be cut by Clr Bert Grange next week.

"It has been a reasonable start to the New Year," he said.

"We have various bundles which are rather big, but are passing over different people's desks as we speak."

Yesterday (Tuesday), Clr Grange promised residents that they would have the best library in Cheshire and it would be built in 12 months.

But as the town awaited the start of the millennium project, it was revealed that Chester library had lost its loos.

Cheshire County Council made the decision to withdraw the facility after the toilets were found littered with syringes.

Clr Grange confirmed yesterday that Knutsford's development would not include public toilets because of the threat from vandals and drug users - a decision which has outraged residents.

"The borough and county council have had top legal teams on this and providing there is a toilet, which would not be refused to anyone who asks for a key, it is fine," he said.

"We are not there to supply toilets. We are there to lend books."

A new library was promised to the town more than 20 years ago and a £1million scheme for the millennium project was unveiled in 1998.

The plans have been hit by a series of delays - many of which were blamed on lawyers - and a start date has been consistently put off.

"It has been a nightmare, but I always knew it would come to fruition," said Clr Grange.

"There are eight solicitors involved and it has been terrible trying to get them altogether."