A group of volunteers who help to support the library in Sandwich claim delays to maintenance work could have been avoided.

The library was closed in May for Kent County Council to fund a £178,000 refurbishment, replacing the lighting and leaking roof, and updating the fire-alarms.

It was due to re-open in July, but this was delayed due to gulls nesting in the roof.

This meant the library did not open for another three months, on Thursday October 8.

Margaret Simpson, chairman of the Sandwich Library Guild, said: “We are still concerned and puzzled that the problems resulting from the nesting gulls were not foreseen, and taken into account when the work was scheduled.

“Unnecessary inconvenience could have been avoided, and the delays and extra work must also have entailed considerable extra costs at a time when the county council is stressing the need for cash saving and cuts.”

KCC explained the seagulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which means chicks cannot be removed until they leave the nest.

Mrs Simpson said the gulls nest in the same places every year and scheduling could have avoided this.

She added that the refurbishment itself was a great improvement.

She said: “The ground floor is now very light and airy feeling, and all the users I have spoken to think it a great improvement. It is a very welcoming space.

“Unfortunately, the Priory meeting room on the first floor is still closed, but groups are using the garden room section at the rear of the ground floor.

“The garden has suffered from the protracted building work, but we are hopeful that KCCs contractors will make good the damage.

“But, all in all, the repairs and improvements are a positive development.

“However, the long term future of Kent’s libraries still remains uncertain.”

The results of a 12-week consultation into turning libraries across the county over to a charitable trust resulted in the council concluding that this was the best solution in order to save costs.