Campaigners have been offered hope a much-loved town library will not be shut permanently despite its owner’s financial woes.

Cash-strapped Kent County Council (KCC) closed Folkestone Library in Grace Hill “temporarily” last December after it suffered water damage to its upper floor.

Users and residents fear the asset will be lost forever because KCC says there is no funding available for repairs.

Many argue the true cost is well below the near £2 million estimate quoted by the authority.

The issue came up at today’s (September 26) Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee meeting after a petition in opposition to the closure achieved the 2,500 signatures required to spark a debate.

Members agreed the matter should go back to the relevant portfolio holder and officers to re-examine the exact cost of carrying out the repair work.

Cabinet member Cllr Clair Bell promised: “I will do my best to find a solution.”

KCC says “all options remain open” for the future of the 135-year-old red brick building.

These include a refit and repair or moving the services at Grace Hill elsewhere.

In March, KCC’s deputy leader Cllr Peter Oakford (Con) told Folkestone member, Cllr Jackie Meade, the authority cannot commit to the estimated £1.8m repair bill.

KCC is under financial pressure from squeezed budgets and rising costs and has to make £86m of savings next year.

Cllr Oakford said at the time: “The amount of work is more significant than KCC had anticipated and KCC has to be realistic that in the current challenging financial climate any spend has to be prioritised.”

“It’s feasible and it should be done...”

Cllr Meade contends the real cost of repair is about one tenth of the KCC estimate as it is mainly down to faulty guttering causing leaks.

Cllr Meade added: “First, KCC said that it had to be closed so that repairs could be carried out and then they turned round and said there’s no budget to do them.”

Visiting member Sir Paul Carter said that 20 years ago KCC invested heavily in libraries and that Folkestone had been upgraded, including the roof.

He said the cost of repairing the building is more like £350,000 and offered to supply KCC with a list of “good” scaffolders and roofers who could do the job much cheaper.

Sir Paul, former KCC leader, said: “It’s feasible and it should be done.”

Lead petitioner Bryan Rylands told the committee: “Grace Hill can play a key role in the regeneration of this significant Kentish town.

“The expectations of the campaign are not unrealistic and our experience includes complex local authority project management. We feel no stone should be left unturned, no lack of effort should lead to the avoidable loss of a significant community asset.”

KCC has already admitted in council documents that while it has explored other options for financing the work, “we have not yet been able to identify a suitable fund to bid for or funding that is available”.

The council says it is making arrangements for temporary library services in the town at the Shepway Youth Centre, which is close to Grace Hill.

Independent councillor Mike Baldock said he was concerned that by failing to maintain public buildings it would mean temporary closures would increasingly become permanent.

“It would be a great loss to Folkestone and, as a town, it is improving but a lot needs to be done...”

Supporters of the Save Folkestone Library campaign have gathered 3,654 signatures for a petition against permanent closure.

The New Folkestone Society recently secured “asset of community value” status for the library from Folkestone and Hythe District Council, which also allows it a “community right to bid.”

This could potentially slow down a possible sale and give community groups the right to bid for it, although the owner is under no obligation to give them preference.

Cllr David Brazier said the building’s deterioration was “entirely Kent County Council’s fault” by not maintaining it.

He told members: “We have a moral responsibility to concern ourselves very much with its restoration. It would be a great loss to Folkestone and, as a town, it is improving but a lot needs to be done.”

After the meeting, campaigner Jon O’Connor said: “It was the best outcome we could have expected at this stage we hope the community and KCC can work together.”