RESIDENTS are being asked to give their views on ambitious £500,000 plans to enhance a York library.

City of York Council chiefs want to extend and refurbish Acomb Library, in Front Street, by adding three new classrooms and an area where refreshments can be provided, as well as relocating the computer suite.

Funding for the scheme is being provided by the Learning And Skills Council.

Meanwhile, alternative plans for the site by German supermarket chain Lidl to flatten the existing facility, along with the bowling green behind it and the pub next door, The Marcia Grey, look to have stalled.

Under their bid, which has not yet officially been lodged with planners, they vowed to build a bigger and better library on the same site in Acomb as part of any development.

A council spokeswoman said they had yet to here anything further from Lidl.

Outline plans for the £500,000 project can now be viewed at the library itself, at Oaklands Sports Centre or at the meeting of the Westfield ward committee, which will take place at the Gateway Christian Centre in Front Street, Acomb, on Wednesday, February 14, at 7pm.

Postcards will be available at each of these venues and residents are being asked to jot down their thoughts on them and post them back to the council.

Fiona Williams, head of the council's library service, said: "This is a great opportunity to create a modern, contemporary library with high quality facilities for the community."

Alistair Gourlay, head of adult and community education for the council, said: "We plan to offer a varied adult learning programme in the new-look Library Learning Centre.

"It will be fantastic to be able to offer all this within a library and we are hoping that local people contribute lots of new ideas about the type of thing that they would like to see."

Work on the project is expected to start early in the summer and should be completed by early in 2008.

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said: "We don't yet know whether Lidl are in a position to make a firm proposal around this site.

"If and when they are, councillors will look at all the pros and cons for the local area before making a decision. Any proposals will be subject to planning permission."

Last month, The Press reported that Labour ward councillors Tracey Simpson-Laing and David Horton were "appalled" at the lack of public consultation over plans for the site.

Coun Simpson-Laing said: "As Acomb councillors, we represent thousands of residents who use the library, yet no council officer has briefed us on any speculative bid to purchase the site."