A £300,000 refurbishment of the grounds of a “vital community hub” is set to be revealed next week as residents praised the “transformation”.
Laindon Library, in New Century Road, has had its gardens and grounds fenced off this month as overgrown hedges have been removed, new paving and steps installed and ornamental gates relocated.
The grounds have been described as neglected due to the sheer amount of overgrowth in recent years with many residents saying they have discovered the service for the first time thanks to these works.
Jeff Henry, Laindon Park’s Conservative Essex County councillor, said: “This week may be of the last week of works, the library is a really valuable asset, and we have had controversy about library closures, every council has, you must use them or lose them.
“The guardrail around the edge are there, the ornamental gates have been taken away and they have been sandblasted and coated to match the guardrails, they are back in place and looking wonderful.
“It gives off a warm and engaging environment now and on the site you had 21 years of growth, the brambles there were dangerous and they would just sprout and come back after they were trimmed.
“It is more visual and welcoming, and to touch on a different element, there is a circle bench there so people will be able to do reading groups.”
Mr Henry added the library, where he holds his monthly surgeries, has “really great staff who offer warm welcomes” and that it has been “transformed”.
Laindon resident, Bob Taylor, added: “The work is all but finished and I thanked the work men there, it looks absolutely fantastic.
“I was apprehensive at first, I liked some of the bushes, but the council never cut them and now the work is done, it looks fantastic, people can actually see where the library is as before it was so overgrown.
“All the outside and landscaping has been done, there are seats around the trees, and it looks great.”
The works follows the start of Laindon Centre regeneration nearby as Sanctuary Homes has started roadworks ahead of the construction of more than 200 new homes, a Lidl and 15 other shops.
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