A LIBRARY extension which cost £500,000 and has been branded "a waste of money" is now open to the public.
The project received criticism when the full extent of its cost was revealed, particularly from members of the Wombwell High Street Committee.
High Street Committee founder Andy Cole said: "It could have been spent on the High Street better. At the end of the day more people use the High Street than they do the library.
"Half of people don't know it is there, they don't know where the library is to be honest."
The extension, which consists of an 80 sq metre community room, a meeting room, toilets and a kitchen was opened by Mayor Coun Tim Shepherd on Tuesday.
It was paid for by the sale of local assets such as the old town hall, swimming baths and High Street toilets.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle dated November 28. **
