Work to refurbish Street Parish Rooms to incorporate the village's library, has been completed.

Street Parish Council held a small gathering to officially open the newly-refurbished Street Parish Council and Street Library building on Thursday morning (November 19).

However, due to current restrictions, the council office and library will remain closed to the public until further notice.

Both floors will be accessible for community use and the ground floor will be more open plan, with new furniture, more books, and computers.

The work was undertaken by Melhuish and Saunders, the building contractor which is based in Glastonbury.

Street councillor Peter Goater said: "For some years members of the parish council had discussed how to optimise the layout of the parish council building, which allowed us to be able to offer space to the library when its existence in Street was threatened.

"Having asked several architects for their vision of what was possible, we now have large open-planned areas downstairs, which will enable a more effective library, with a greater number of computers available to help those that need it, and more library facilities.

"It will also benefit the parish council with the new lift ensuring greater accessibility to upstairs for meetings and improved community use.

"I would like to thank all of those councillors involved over the years, many no longer on the council, but especially Linda Ruff, the parish clerk, and Jenny Marshfield and Mark Sandiford assistant clerks. It has been huge amounts of work for them.

"I hope people will soon be able to visit the newly-refurbished building, although a grand re-opening will not be possible while Covid is with us.

"I would also like to thank Orme Architects for managing the process, and Melhuish and Saunders for the great job they have done. I am very proud of what we have accomplished together."

Claire Axten, chair of the Friends of Street Library, said: "The Friends of Street Library are delighted with our new premises.

"Having worked tirelessly to save the library, we are so grateful to Street Parish Council and Somerset County Council for their support and determination in ensuring we have the best possible for the people of Street.

"We know that staff at both councils have had to work tremendously hard to see this project through, over the last months, and we are truly grateful.

"We look forward to our new library re-opening so that we can continue to support our wonderful library staff in delivering exciting activities for the new era."

Sue Crowley, strategic manager for Somerset Libraries, said: "We've been working in partnership with Street Parish Council and the Friends of Street Library towards the new Street Library for the past couple of years, so Somerset County Council are delighted that the refurbishment is now complete.

"We are looking forward to reopening and welcoming back the community to Street Library."

A spokesperson for Melhuish and Saunders said: "Street Parish Rooms have been handed over to Street Parish Council.

"It has been another great local project undertaken with our friends Orme Architecture in Baltonsborough.

"The project ran so well, and we've had great feedback throughout. Thank you all involved for helping to make this project run so smoothly."