A new library and community venture is due to open in the centre of Paulton from next Monday, 15th April. 'The Hub' consists of a new library facility, (which has been moved from its previous home in the Methodist Church), plus a coffee bar and meeting room with WiFi that will be available for anyone to hire. It is due to be officially opened next Wednesday, 17th April at 10 a.m.

The official opening of The Hub will mark the eagerly awaited completion of this community project, run by B&NES Council in conjunction with Paulton Parish Council and B&NES' local Ward Councillors, John Bull and Liz Hardman. It is hoped that this venture, right in the centre of Paulton, at the Hillcourt Shopping Centre, will bring more people into Paulton and breathe some life back into the village.

Paulton's Hub is the first of its kind locally in an experimental, new approach to the way in which libraries and community services are provided. The set-up costs for the project have been provided by capital funding, with ongoing revenue costs coming from the existing library budget for Paulton, lease charges from the coffee bar operators and income from the meeting room bookings, helping The Hub to pay its way.

The aim is to keep the facility open for as many hours as possible – involving volunteers to cover the hours needed and to encourage the community to get involved, being more pro-active in the village in which they live. In turn, it is hoped that this will encourage regeneration for Paulton and a sense of civic pride – something that seems to be returning in recent months, for example, with the work of the village In Bloom Committee, who are now 'not just about flowers', but are encouraging events for the whole community.

Speaking this week, B&NES Labour Councillor for Paulton, Liz Hardman, said: "An internet café was part of Paulton's Community Plan and to combine this with a new library is a dream come true."

The Council are setting targets for The Hub – it hopes to increase library membership, use and visits by 50% in the next five years and to increase its income by 2% in the first year. It will be measuring the frequency of the room hire and the success of the commercial café, located within The Hub. The facility should also allow villagers greater access to direct local services that they may not have had access to before on their doorsteps. The building may help local businesses who will be able to have access to the meeting room facilities for training or advice sessions.

"This is the jewel in the crown for the regeneration of the village centre," said Les Wild, Chair of Paulton Parish Council.

Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "The Hub is an exciting project where members of the Paulton community can develop, deliver and access the services that they want. Having the library in a more central location with a coffee bar and meeting spaces is going to be a real benefit.

"Bath and North East Somerset Council is keen to enable local people to actively lead the delivery of improvements in their community. We're grateful for the continued support of the Ward Councillors and Paulton Parish Council and we encourage even more people to get involved as volunteers."

The new facility will now open six days a week (the longest opening hours in the area apart from Bath Central Library) – from 9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, a late night opening from 9.30 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Other smaller community library schemes are also taking place locally in Combe Hay's Church, which began in March, and a pub in Chew Stoke. So far, over fifty volunteers have come forward to help with The Hub in Paulton – if you would like to get involved, you can do so by contacting the Council's library service on: 01225 394041 or by email: council [email protected]">[email protected]