High Wycombe’s old library will be transformed into offices for the county council’s social care staff – throwing up questions about what will happen to their old base just minutes away.  

The library on Queen Victoria Road has stood empty for 10 years – with Bucks County Council’s major property and projects chief branding it an “embarrassment” after a legal wrangle over access to the building finally came to an end this year.

Despite calls from residents and Wycombe district councillors to return the neglected building to community use as a café or exhibition space, Bucks County Council has got planning permission to convert the historic building into offices.

Joe Nethercoat, head of strategic assets and major property/projects at BCC, said moving the social care team – which is currently based round the corner in Easton Street - closer to the district council and police station and the town centre would make the services “more accessible”.

However, questions are now being asked about what will happen to their old Easton Street base – which Mr Nethercoat said costs £300,000 a year to maintain.

He said: “The Easton Street office is quite old-fashioned and an unpleasant environment. We haven’t invested in it the way we should have. It will also take 300 more people and there’s currently only 140 people in it.

“We will be working with the district to decide what to do with the Easton Street building. We are very open minded as to what we can do with it.”

At a High Wycombe town committee meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Ray Farmer asked if the building might be turned into residential housing or offices.

Mr Nethercoat said: “We are open to all those ideas. They will be pushed through the accountancy machine and the options will be presented to members and they will make the choice.

“I'm open to ideas – I have no axe to grind. What’s of interest to me is making the £150,000 to £200,000 of savings a year.

“It is a public asset and if there’s a need for whatever work you’re doing around Wycombe and you need the space, we’re open to discussions.”

Work to transform the old library into offices will start in June, with the team expected to move in in January.

The adult social care team will remain at Easton Street until they can be rehomed in offices in Amersham or elsewhere in High Wycombe.

Cllr Rafiq Raja said he was pleased to hear the old library – which Mr Nethercoat described as a “thorn in everyone’s side” – would be brought back into use but worried about parking.

Mr Nethercoat responded, adding: “We are trying to secure parking permits and use some public space available round the back of the [Wycombe Swan] theatre. But we will still be at Easton Street for the time being so staff will still be able to park there for now.”