THE LATEST chapter of Bicester's new state-of-art library has seen more than 1,000 new members join in the past month.

At three times the size of its predecessor, the town library is packed with around 50,000 books and now has 1,037 new members to read them.

The building was opened on Monday, April 11, as part of the new £6.6m community hub Franklins House built on the former Franklins Yard car park.

Library assistant Hannah Kinge said: "We have noticed more people coming in to study and I think the more modern style has resulted in more young faces appearing."

Sam Eilertsen, who goes to the library with daughters, Gracie, eight months, and Esme, four, said: "The new library is much more spacious and inviting.

"Esme is in her element."

The library is part of multimillion pound project which marks the final phase of a Bicester regeneration project which began with the construction of Pioneer Square in 2013.

Alongside the library, a new Cherwell District Council office, a 53-bedroom Travelodge, office space and shop space also share the building.

The library also has a permanent space for the Bicester jobs club and Bicester Local History Society.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for cultural services Lorraine Lindsay-Gale said: "We enrolled 1,037 new members in the first six weeks and that really is tremendous news.

"We know that people are impressed with the improved facilities and we believe this is a sign that the library is already becoming a focal point for the growing town of Bicester.

"Libraries are no longer just about the number of books issued. They have a much wider role including digital access to council services. Bicester is leading the way."

Plans for the former library in Old Place Yard include an application to Cherwell District Council to build 11 self-contained flats in the area.

The homes will be for adults with learning or physical disabilities or are on the autistic spectrum.

But locals have raised concerns about building on the land which was the site of a 12th century Priory and, they say, could be of national importance.

Resident Robert Parkinson said he was expecting the council to make a decision on the flat plan this month.

He said: "The proposals are harmful to the significance of the buried archaeology, which is of demonstrably equivalent significance to a scheduled monument.

"The layout of the proposed blocks was determined without reference to buried remains.

"A similar high handed approach was taken to areas of public open space trees and the listed dovecote.

"These were either obliterated or absorbed into proposed private areas of the proposals."