PONTELAND town councillors have called for a potential housing development at the old library site to include space for community facilities.

The library is moving to its new home at Ponteland Leisure Centre, where it will reopen on Monday.

Ascent Homes, part of Arch, the Northumberland Development Company, is planning to build 34 two-bedroom apartments, built in two four-storey blocks on the site of the old library on Thornhill Road.

An exhibition last month asked for residents’ views on the plans.

Speaking at a meeting of the town council, Mayor Coun. Carl Rawlings, said: “At the meeting, some residents voiced concerns about the proposals, in particular the height of the building, which is to be four stories high.

“They also said that they wish the building could still have a library or some sort of community facilities.”

After a discussion about how the request could affect the building size, including a possible increase in the height of the building if the ground floor was for community use, the councillors agreed to write to the developers, pointing out the concerns over the height of the building and asking if a library or community facilities could be included.