Supporters of a community facility are urging people to vote for a former Letchworth library base to receive a grant which would help it in its bid for an upgrade.

The old library – housed in a building annexed to Jackmans Community Centre – has been announced as a finalist in the Jewson Building Better Communities competition, and is in with the chance of winning a share of a £100,000 fund.

Herts County Council closed the neighbourhood library service in 2006, but the lease for the building was transferred to the centre’s community association.

The project will cost £32,000 to complete, which would provide new windows, toilets, the creation of a meeting room, storage space and improved doorways which would be more suitable to wheelchair users.

Colin Swann, representative of the Old Library, and Jackmans Community Centre chairman Alan Bryl are urging people to get voting before the deadline on May 31.

Colin said: “It was felt that to move this library into a usable modern facility for the community to use in small groups and more, that funding would be required.

“To have been nominated and shortlisted is a great achievement, but it is important people get behind the project and vote so that we can secure the funds to do vital work in the community.

“The funding will enable the old library to be refurbished into a new vibrant facility accessible to all in the community of Letchworth.

“Letchworth has some corporate facilities within the town but we will be able to offer a smaller venue which has been requested by some organisations.

“Claire Morgan from North Herts District Council has been putting us in touch with other grant possibilities and we thank her for her efforts and guidance.”

To vote for the Jackmans facility visit www.buildingbettercommunities.co.uk.

Letchworth Library in Broadway is also set for a facelift, with about two weeks of external decorations being carried out on the windows and pipes.