A garage that once housed a mobile library vehicle could be turned into a youth club.

The space at Oakham Library in Catmos Street was also used for book deliveries and storage, but the mobile library service is now defunct, and Rutland County Council wants to convert what is there into an after-school venue.

Its plans were submitted last week by the council's contracted quantity surveyor, Rider Levett Bucknall Ltd.

The renovation would include replacing a sliding door with a glazed 'shop front'. There would also be wheelchair access and inside the 55 square metre club venue there would also be a store, a cleaner's cupboard, and an accessible toilet. The rest of Oakham Library and a family hub that is housed there would not be changed.

If plans are granted, the space would be used in the evenings for groups of up to 20 young people.

But approval could also end hope of the mobile library service returning.

A report accompanying the planning application says: "We understand Rutland County Council no longer has a library vehicle (mobile library) as the cost of replacing and running such a vehicle is prohibitive.

"Alternative arrangements, including a delivery service to the housebound, were introduced over two years ago and it is extremely unlikely, given the capital costs of purchasing such a vehicle and in staffing/sustaining it, a mobile service will be reintroduced." 

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Oakham Library is also referred to as Rutland County Library. (Photo: Grace Kennington)

Oakham Library was built in the early 1970s. If the garage's delivery bay is lost deliveries would be taken through the main entrance, and a small storeroom created for books waiting to be sorted and put on shelves.

The authority announced this summer it would be spending £950,000 on improving four libraries. It has received government and arts council funding and will pay for the rest from its own capital funds.

The council will make a decision on the youth club application in the coming weeks.