THE Friends of Charmouth library have persuaded Dorset County Council to refurbish the building’s roof and heating system before handing it over to the community.

Dorset County Council’s cabinet decided the fate of the nine threatened libraries at their last meeting, with seven submitting business plans to try and take them over.

Hazel Robinson, chairman of Friends of Charmouth Library, said: “In the case of Charmouth, it would have been impossible for the Friends to have taken on the library unless the roof and heating system were put into good order before the September handover. The good news was that this was agreed.

“The bad news was that requests for set-up grants were turned down.”

The community will have to find the money to refurbish the damp-stained interior, to install the chairs, tables and other equipment necessary to set it up as an internet café and to finance all the costs involved while the ‘business’ bec-omes established, added Mrs Robinson.

She said Friends of Charmouth Library have every intention of meeting the challenge.

Mrs Robinson added: “There will also – of necessity – have to be a continuing programme of fundraising activities, but the library’s next event is all free. Friends will be giving away seeds, eco-pots and seed-saver envelopes in front of the library from 10.30am to 2.30am on March 24.”

The event is to celebrate the inception of a community garden in the grounds that surround the library.