BUILDING work on Southend’s new £27million library has started.

Chiefs from Southend Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College gathered at the site, in Elmer Approach, yesterday to mark the start of an 18-month construction programme.

The library, dubbed the Forum, will replace the existing Central Library when it opens in August next year.

Derek Jarvis, Tory councillor responsible for culture, said: “This is a really exciting project which will bring fantastic benefits for residents, students and visitors to the town.

“A huge amount of groundwork has been done just to get us to where we are today.

“However, once the building work starts and people start seeing the machinery moving around the site, it will all start to become very real. It’s very exciting.”

Plans to build a new library in Southend, as part of a deal with the university, first emerged in 2006.

However, the project stalled as council bosses fought to secure the necessary funding.

When South Essex College came on board, it was decided to split the building costs three ways, with the council stumping up £12.5million, the university contributing £10.4million and the college finding the remaining £4million.

The new library will be built on the site of the former Farringdon multi-storey car park, which was demolished last year.

As well as replacing the Central Library, the finished building will feature research facilities, an art gallery, lecture theatres and a huge television screen for public screenings of theatre and art shows.

The project’s contractor, Wates Construction, has also promised to recruit locally and provide apprenticeships for Southend students.

Bryn Morris, the university’s registrar, said: “This project is a vital addition to the university’s growing presence in the town and we look forward to seeing the Forum come to life.”

John Hayles, acting principal and chief executive of South Essex College, added: “It’s amazing to think that, in about 18 months from now, we’ll have gone from a site full of rubble to an inspiring new library and learning facility for the public, college and university students, alike.”