WORK to install long-awaited lifts at Oxford’s central library is to start in January but will take a year to complete.

The new library at the entrance to the Westgate Centre opened in December following an 18-month revamp costing almost £6m.

The county council provided £3.6m with Westgate Centre developers paying £2m.

However lifts accommodating standard issue NHS wheelchairs were not fitted at what is now known as The Oxfordshire County Library and people who can’t use the stairs are unable to get to the bookshelves.

One of the people who complained about the lifts was Suzi Horsley, a mum-of-three from Headington, after she discovered her wheelchair would not fit.

READ AGAIN - a £6m revamp, but the lifts are too small for wheelchairs

Ms Horsley said at the time: “It’s ridiculous that I’m unable to use the public library - the main public library in the middle of a new multi-million pound shopping centre - because of the lift.

“I could get inside but the doors wouldn’t close as it’s ridiculously small and my wheelchair stuck out.”

Last year the council said lifts were not upgraded as part of the revamp due to ‘demand in the lift construction sector’.

Now the council has said work will start on installing new lifts in January but will take a year to complete.

Robert Light, 75, from Kidlington, who uses a wheelchair because of his arthritis, said he had visited the Westgate Centre on numerous occasions but has never been able to use the library.

He added: “I think it’s disgraceful that this has not been fixed sooner – thousands of people like me are missing out.”

Oxford Mail:

County council spokesman John Carter said the council was ready to enter into a contract that will replace the existing lifts with a more modern and wider unit.

He added: “The new lifts are designed to meet the needs of users of wheelchairs, those with prams and for use in the event of an emergency.

“In discussions with the contractor they have revised their working methods to ensure that one lift from the foyer through to the second floor remains operational during the length of the ongoing works. On completion of the installation and commissioning of the first lift, works will continue on to the second lift.

“These works are programmed to start in January 2019, with the first lift in operation by August 2019.

"Due to the requirement to remain operational, completion of both lifts will take approximately a year to complete.

“The council is now undertaking these works, as the lifts were omitted as part of the developer-led refurbishment works to the library.”

The cost of the work to install new lifts has not yet been revealed by the council.