NORTH Swindon is finally set to get a library and youth centre after the building earmarked for the project was mothballed for almost a year.

Vandals have daubed the building outside Asda Wal-Mart in Haydon Wick with graffiti since it was completed in January.

But residents may still have to wait until next summer before the building, that will also house a medical centre, is put to use.

It was built under an agreement drawn up when planning permission for the development was granted in 2000.

The council has struggled to find the cash to kit the centre out with computers and books and recruit one full time and one part time youth worker. The cost is estimated at more than £80,000.

Swindon Council spokeswoman Hellen Barnes said the internal fitting out work for the new library at Haydon would be carried out over the next three months and would include everything from ceilings to heating and lighting, plus toilet facilities.

Once this work is complete, the library will be housed with library stock, furniture and IT equipment.

David Allen, library services manager for the Council, says: "The fitting out work for the library is soon to begin and if everything runs smoothly we shall be able to open the library in either late spring or early summer 2003.

"The new library will be the first state-of-the-art facility in the borough and will include a dedicated computer suite giving free public internet access as well as a very wide range of fiction, reference and children's books, videos, CDs and DVDs.

"In the meantime, a mobile library serves residents in the Haydon area."

In addition to the building work, the post of a full time youth worker will be advertised shortly and it is hoped that this appointment will be made by Christmas.

The opening date for the youth centre is still to be confirmed.

Councillor Ian Dobie (Con, Haydon Wick) welcomed the development but said it was long overdue.

He said: "People have been waiting far too long, I understand the problems with financing it but it has been a long, long wait.

"We are looking at the whole of the winter and well into next year before it is opened, and apart from the much needed library there are a lot of teenagers in the area with few activities."

Asda Wal-Mart spokesman Simon Leonard said: "The youth centre and library was part of the whole scheme and these things are sometimes a long complicated process.

"We will be glad to see opening and believe that will happen later this year."