Tranent residents will no doubt have noticed that groundworks are already underway at the new Tranent Library and Council Office site at Winton Place – and work on the actual building is due to start in July this year.

The £1.8 million project will take a year to complete and, as well as the library, will see East Lothian Council staff from the Housing, Customer Services, Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) and Environmental Health teams moving from their temporary units at Sandersons Wynd into new, purpose- built offices.

Some of the library features will include public access PCs and WiFi throughout the building as well as a self-service terminal where borrowers can scan and stamp their own books and a comfortable seating area and coffee machine. £70,000 will be spent on new library stock.

Members of the public will see service improved when visiting Council staff in the Housing, Customer Service, ASB and Environmental Health teams with purpose-built private interview rooms and more welcoming reception areas.

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Councillor Ruth Currie, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, said: "I am thrilled that work is finally about to start on what will be a focal point for the Tranent community. Our research has shown that the existing library building is not being used to its full potential – mainly due to the constraints of the 1960s building.

"The new library building has been designed to be bright, naturally lit, airy and modern, with an open plan design and flexible accommodation so that we can host a lot more exciting events and displays in our library and, of course, accommodate even more borrowers. And with some great new stock going in, there will be a whole lot more to whet the interest of local people. It’s not just books, of course.

"Our modern East Lothian libraries have varied stock including CDs and DVDs. I am also going to be very excited to see how much the Council staff moving to the new building will enjoy their new offices and how much more accessible and welcoming they will be to local residents. This is going to be a fantastic facility for Tranent and the local area."

The new library and Council office will have 20 car parking spaces, including two disabled bays, at the rear of the building. A review is also set to take place of the Civic Square site as the existing library building will be empty by next summer. Details will follow shortly about how members of the public can give their views on how the Civic Square can be used in future.

(GK)