Matt McCloskey, of developers Property Solutions, spoke to the Knutsford Guardian on his mobile as he made his way to the meeting at Mere Golf and Country Club.

He was due to be updated on the scheme after a holiday and promised town residents it would not be long before work began. We are just checking everything is ready and I would expect a clear date will be set this week, he said.

A deal has now been struck over the old folks club that will be incorporated into the library.

The committee will be allowed to hire out the facilities and keep the proceeds.

It will be worth its weight in gold when it is completed, said Clr Bert Grange.

Knutsford has been waiting 25 years for a library, but delays have hit progress on the new plan for the site behind the council offices.

A glass frontage on the scheme was dropped after planners gave it the thumbs down, but the designs are now believed to have satisfied everyone.