THE Portland Under-hill Library saga has taken another twist after the building’s owner insists he wants it to remain open.

Landlord Steve Barnard, the man behind the controversial application to convert the Fortuneswell building into two flats, said that he had no plans to force the library out.

“The library are great tenants,” he said. “They always pay their rent on time and are no trouble. Who would want that to change?”

Mr Barnard, a Dorchester-based businessman, ex-plained: “The application for change of use, to convert it into two flats, is being sought in case the lease is not continued by the county council.

“We are very happy having the library as tenants. We have no intention of forcing them out.”

Dorset County Council – the authority operating the library – confirmed its lease does not expire until 2012.

But county lawyers negotiated a one-way clause allowing them to give just three months notice at a specified date every year.

Mr Barnard said: “Unfortunately, in the current financial climate the market for other commercial tenants in Fortuneswell is not good. I think most of the residents would agree. I know some people will think we have an alternative motive but this planning application is only so we have the option to convert to flats, should the county council decide to opt out of the lease – that is all.”

Neighbours became aware of the application pushing for residential flats at the library site, earlier this month.

Almost immediately scores of people signed a petition calling for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planners to throw out the plans.

Fortuneswell resident and illustrator Ian Andrew, one of the neighbours spearheading the save the library campaign, handed in the 308 signature petition, on Monday.

Mr Andrew said: “It’s interesting what the landlord says – to be fair he has always seemed like a decent bloke. The thing that has most annoyed residents is the way the borough council advertised this – only a couple of people received letters and even the librarian had no idea what was going on.

“This library is part of the fabric of the community. If it was to be taken away, people would suffer.”

He has sent a copy of the petition to the borough and the county council.

The building became a library in 1997 – five years later an application to build three flats at the site, while retaining the library, was approved.

Since then there have been two unsuccessful attempts to phase out the library and convert the building into flats.

Neighbours have until June 30 to contact the borough planning department with their comments.

Currently, the library opens to the public four days a week, for three hours each time.