An old library building could be back at the heart of the community under plans to reopen it.

The old Heaton Library has been closed for sometime to the public and now the local authority is exploring the long term lease to Woodbridge College.

Under plans the centre would support young people but also open up the centre for members of the public to organise groups and have access to computers and much more.

Woodbridge College supports young people aged 19-25 with additional needs.

The Woodbridge Trust already provides supported learning opportunities at Ladywood School and Firwood High School.

It is proposed the lease arrangements will include preserving community access to the centre and Woodbridge taking on the significant costs of running and maintaining the building.

Heaton and Lostock councillor Andy Morgan said: “The centre has been closed for some time to the public.

"There has been some suggestion that the centre is being sold to a private company which is simply not true.

"A lease to Woodbridge will not only support the young people who attend the college but also enable community access for groups in the area such as chatty cafes and art groups.

"It would also allow the neighbourhood book collection to resume from the centre which would be run by Woodbridge students and public access PCs would also be made available again.”

Fellow ward councillor Anne Galloway added: “The Heaton Centre is ideally located to enable Woodbridge students to access the opportunities both locally and in the wider town.

"The 12 supported students will be volunteering with local groups and projects to make a difference in the area.

"This includes litter picking with green umbrella and volunteering at the local bowling club and allotments.

"Woodbridge will also be looking to create a local history project about the life and times of the building for the community to see.”

A short-term trial has been agreed with Woodbridge for the next few months while the formal process to look at granting a lease is progressed.

During this time the scheme will be monitored to ensure that there is minimal disruption locally before any long-term decision is made.