THE closure of a library two years before a replacement is built has angered users.

Catterick Garrison library, in Gough Road, is due to close next month. A new facility will be built inside a £20m Ministry of Defence sports and leisure centre being developed nearby.

However, library users are concerned that the replacement will not open until 2009.

The site of the old library has been earmarked on the plans as an access road to the sports centre building site and an entrance road to the completed venue.

Pat Whelan, of Hudswell Parish Council, said there was no need to close the library so soon.

She said: "It is unnecessary to demolish this building at least two years before an entrance to the sports centre is required."

Mrs Whelan proposes that the old library is left standing until the end of the building work, and an alternative access road to the site is used.

She said: "This continuity is important to young families and residents of housing estates to the north and west of the site, and those without private transport."

Mrs Whelan has written about her concerns to officers at North Yorkshire County Council, which runs the library. She has also raised the issue with county councillor John Blackie.

He said: "I feel that the county - if it is essential that we knock the building down - should look to find another building on the garrison that would allow the library and internet service to continue."

David Fay, county council general manager for libraries, confirmed that the library was scheduled to close next month.

He said: "I am afraid this is because the current library building has to be demolished to allow access to the site of the new library. There is no alternative to this.

"We are currently looking at a number of alternative ways of providing library services.

"They are likely to include a weekly stop for a mobile library, use of another building in Catterick to allow access to computers and extending the opening hours at Colburn."