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Kettering library roof to be replaced at cost of £7m

Burgess Von Thunen/Geograph Kettering library, part of CornerstoneBurgess Von Thunen/Geograph
The library in Kettering dates back to 1904

A £7m bill to replace a leaking roof on a historic town library has been approved by councillors.

The aging roof of the library building in Kettering had suffered damage during bad weather in recent months.

North Northamptonshire Council (NCC) previously admitted it was "an eye-watering figure", but said "we've got to find the money from somewhere".

A motion requesting £790,000 for the next stage of the Isham bypass, just outside the town, was also approved.

There have been plans to turn the library, art gallery and museum into one centre, known as the Cornerstone, but the state of the roof was not fully known until work got under way - and it was further damaged by bad weather in recent times.

The work on the roof is expected to take about two years to complete.

Maura Bright/Futurefotos Part of the library building showing buckets, heaters and items removed from the wall and shelvesMaura Bright/Futurefotos
Staff had to mop up the water that got into the building through the roof

Meanwhile, Isham's bypass has been on the cards since 2001 and some funding was secured in 2021.

The council requested £790,000 to complete new business case requests from the Department for Transport.

It will be transferred from the Integrated Transport Block budget, to top up the £4.5m budget previously secured.

The bypass has an earliest opening date of winter 2027-28.

Lorry and car pass on road in the foreground. Isham church tower in the background.
Isham is on a busy route between Wellingborough and Kettering
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