THE former Newbridge Library is expected to be put on the open market after the council failed to attract any business proposals for its future use.

Caerphilly council cabinet members will be presented with a report at a meeting on Wednesday, which will suggest selling the site for a housing development.

Back in November last year, members agreed to place the building on the market with a view to handing the reins over to prospective businesses either for freehold sale or to lease it out.

But despite four initial expressions of interest, including from a community organisation, no actual applications were received before the April 13 deadline.

As the building remains vacant and the responsibility of the council, cabinet members are now being asked to approve that the site can be formally marketed for sale on the open market.

The report says: “As part of the disposal process, it may be deemed beneficial to obtain outline planning consent for a residential development to ensure access from Thorne Avenue can be formally considered.”

A report last November said the site was deemed "surplus to the requirements" by the council, due partly to the renovation works at the Newbridge Memo, which includes a brand new library.

That report said the condition of the former library, which was built in 1970, was likely to deteriorate while it would cost the authority more than £53,000 to put the 470 square-metre accommodation into a “reasonable standard” over a five-year period.

It was estimated demolition work would cost in the region of £20,000.

Local councillors as well as the Newbridge Community Partnership had said they wanted to see the area used for amenity or recreational space, or for an alternative community use.

But the freehold disposal of the land will produce a capital receipt and relieve the council of its maintenance obligations, which would ease the financial burden on the council as they try and make further budget cuts.