Cheshire County Council is hoping to negotiate a deal with a private developer.

County librarian Ian Dunn confirmed yesterday (Tuesday) that it represented the best hope of replacing the town's existing Victorian library.

The new library, which would built behind the council offices in Toft Road, could be open in 18 months - with the co-operation of Knutsford Town Council and Macclesfield Borough Council.

"We could be closer now than we have ever been to securing a new library for Knutsford," said County Councillor Bert Grange.

Mr Dunn said the new library would be up to three times bigger than the existing Brook Street base.

"We will be able to accommodate more materials and new technology including the Internet," he said.

And he assured people that the old library - built in 1904 - was included in the deal.

"I can't see that anyone would want to change that building," he said.

Cheshire County Council said that at best the new library could incorporate a substantial new home for the old folk's club which is situated next to the proposed site.

Clr Grange said he was delighted that the county council had chosen to involve a commercial developer.

He added: "In the current economic situation we could not afford to spend over £1m on building a new library.

"A private funding initiative offers us a real opportunity to provide this long-needed facility."

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