A LIBRARY and heritage centre is due to open in the spring, after it was destroyed by a fire.

East Tilbury Library, in Princess Avenue, is being reconstructed after the incident.

In January 2017, a car was driven into the building and set a light.

The Bata Heritage Group said it’s planning to reopen the library and centre in the spring.

The contract for the rebuilding project was awarded to H W Wilson from South Ockendon.

The firm has spent the last few months reconstructing the community centre in East Tilbury.

When work is complete the new building will have a new entrance and two new meetings rooms for community use.

Mike Tarbard, chairman of the Bata Heritage Centre said there has been some problems along the line which include the exterior cladding and drainage issues in the car park.

He said: “The work is anticipated to be completed in the Spring – but no specific date is understandably being given.

“I am in regular contact with and meet with Thurrock Council’s libraries staff over the build and internal fittings.

“These are close to being finalised and we are told that the company involved in the refit will be able to come in and do their part of the contract as soon as the building and related work is complete.

“It will then be about moving back in which will take time.

“Our collection has largely been cleaned and restored by a professional firm that we engaged and we intend to catalogue the entire collection as part of the moving in process.”

He said he is delighted that the project is underway.

Mr Tarband said: “It has been a long process and hard work, we’ve had work hard to keep our group together and going.

“It would have been easy for us to break up.

“The people of East Tilbury have been without a library for about two years and I am thrilled for them.”

He said there has been a temporary library service set up but it is not the same.

The library and centre is due to hold an open day in the Spring but as the new centre is not completed yet it will relocated.

The event is set to be held on Saturday April 13 in the ground floor area of the former Bata Building 13 Administration Building, Princess Margaret Road from 10am to 2pm.

It was announced in October last year that the project had been given the go ahead.

The heritage group, that documents the works of the Bata shoe factory, was given a grant of £65,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the rebuilding project.

The Bata Heritage Centre also received £5,000 from Thurrock CVS to assist with restoring smoke damaged items.

Back in January 2017, firefighters battled the laze at the library after a car was reversed into the building and set alight.

Two crews from Grays and one crew from Orsett were called to the fire.

The fire was contained in the foyer area and that the fire doors restricted the potential damage that could have been caused.

Days later thieves broke into the library to steal cash.