Todmorden News

Todmorden's Amazonails Help Build Shelf Eco Library

The brand new Shelf Library will open its doors to the public on Thursday 14th May 2009. The library will be officially opened on Saturday 16th May 2009 by the Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Conrad Winterburn and Rebecca Hird, the Shelf Gala Queen.

The opening ceremony begins at 11.45am and throughout the morning there will be drop-in craft sessions for children, a dance demonstration and displays relating to the building.

The library has been built using traditional techniques and environmentally-friendly materials, including walls made using straw bales and a living sedum roof covering. The building techniques were developed by specialists Amazonails of Todmorden. The bales are fireproof due to the plaster rendered on top, and also because they are so dense there is no oxygen to create combustion.

The library is being built as an extension to the village hall, creating a ‘community hub’ which can act as a meeting place and centre. The disused space at the rear of the hall has also been transformed into new accommodation for the local pre-school playgroup.

Councillor Ian Cooper, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for Community Services, said:

“I’m delighted to see the new Shelf library ready to open for business. The new building is light and airy, and is a vast improvement for customers in terms of convenience and breadth of services. The hall, the library and the playgroup have come together to provide an attractive and welcoming community facility for Shelf. I was especially pleased we were able to use a local company for the specialist building process and draw on the environmentally-friendly technology offered by Amazonails.”

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