PLANS to make Stalybridge’s library and art gallery accessible for all have been redrawn.
Tameside Council put forward proposals for a new lift and ramped entrance to the Astley Cheetham building in January.
Now it has redesigned what it wants to do and submitted a fresh planning application.
The current extension at the back, constructed in 2003, will be demolished and replaced with a deeper structure.
As well as that, a new ramp will be built and a new lift will be installed as the current one is too old.
Documents supporting the application state: “The existing accessible entrance extension, constructed in the 1990s, is uninviting and lacks clear legibility.
“Access is poorly signposted and currently leads visitors through a car park and service yard, making the approach both impractical and unwelcoming.
“The platform lift internally, which is essential for wheelchair access, is now beyond its serviceable life and has a history of breakdowns.
“It also requires staff assistance to operate, which compromises the independence of users and limits its functionality during unstaffed hours.
“As a result, the accessible entrance cannot be used during ‘Open Plus’ hours when no staff are present in the building.
“Furthermore, the main front entrance cannot be automatically secured as part of the ‘Open Plus’ system due to the manual locking required for the existing metal gates.
“This limitation presents a clear opportunity to introduce a new, improved secondary entrance that can support both accessibility and automation, in line with other libraries in the borough.
“The proposed solution involves constructing a new extension by extruding the footprint of the existing extension outwards, approximately to the depth of a car parking bay.
“This approach has been carefully developed to minimise intervention to the existing listed building, and crucially, to eliminate the need for a lift within the entrance area.
“The existing extension holds no heritage value, meaning that the proposed works will have minimal impact on the historic significance of the listed building.
“To further improve the visitor experience, a fenced-off and landscaped area has been introduced at the front of the site, effectively separating pedestrian access from any vehicle movements and creating a safer, more welcoming arrival space.
“The proposed entrance extension provides a discreet but essential upgrade to the library’s accessibility and long-term viability.
“It preserves historic character while enabling all members of the public to access cultural and learning services – day or night.”
This scheme is part of a £1.8 million project to renovate and regenerate Astley Cheetham Library and Art Gallery.
And it will form part of a £19.9 million scheme for the whole town centre after the Government awarded the sum through its Levelling Up Fund.
Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.