PLANS to build a new library at Abergavenny’s former cattle market site could be abandoned by Monmouthshire council.

The county council made a decision in 2010 to set aside more than £3million to build a new library on the site, but now plan to cancel the proposal, due to additional overhead costs that might be incurred.

The former livestock market and slaughterhouse buildings were demolished in July last year to make way for a new Morrisons supermarket, with the council earmarking part of the site for the new library.

Next Thursday, councillors will discuss whether to remove the £3.433m funding kept aside for the new library from the capital budget.

Cabinet have recommended the money is instead used to develop a ‘community hub,’ along with town centre regeneration projects.

In a report set to be discussed next week, council officers have said that a wide debate has shown that a “new-build library is not necessary to provide a better facility”.

It says removing the funding from the budget will remove any ambiguity for Morrison’s architects and council officers will be able to investigate other uses for the site.

The report states: “Additional overhead costs for rates, heating, lighting etc. were estimated as an additional £60,000, exclusive of any labour costs that might be incurred in utilising a building some three times larger than the existing library.

“Investigations took place into whether other organisations might wish to share the building, thereby defraying the overhead costs, however none came forward.

“More recently, discussions... have publicly spoken about alternative venues within Abergavenny where a community hub might be situated.

“Furthermore, budget estimates and designs for alternative venues have been commissioned to advise future decisions.”

The council will also consider selling the site to generate more income.