A NEW public library may open in the grounds of a primary school as part of a proposed shake-up of Southend’s library service.

Southend Council has held talks with Thorpedene Primary School on the possibility of opening a library on its site in Delaware Road, Shoebury.

A year-long review of the library service suggested replacing Thorpedene Library, also in Delaware Road, and Friars Library, in The Renown Centre, with a new centralised library in Delaware Road.

Councillor Derek Jarvis, cabinet member for culture and a governor of the school, said: “The school has aspirations to do things, and part of those aspirations may well be to have a library on site.

“Discussions have been very broad.”

Council officers and the school are said to have discussed the idea of constructing a new building on the school’s campus with classrooms on the ground floor and a library, accessible to the public, above.

Mr Jarvis, who is also a Tory councillor for Shoebury, stressed that nothing had been decided and the authority has other sites in Delaware Road, including a Sure Start children’s centre, Shoebury Youth Centre, Shoebury High School, Shoebury Leisure Centre and a housing office as well as playing fields.

He said: “We have expressed the clear view that the library at The Renown and the library at Thorpedene will be replaced by a hub library somewhere in land in Delaware Road.

“Delaware Road is full of public buildings, any of which could serve as the hub.”