'Unique' slate ordered for leaky library roof

The 120-year-old Collyweston slate roof of the library needs replacing

Council officials say a "unique" type of roofing slate is now on order to replace the leaking roof of a library.

Only one supplier can provide enough Collyweston slate within the required timescale for Kettering Library in Northamptonshire, the authority said.

Councillors agreed last year to borrow the £7m needed to fund the repair work.

North Northamptonshire Council said it would re-use existing slate wherever possible.

Slate from Collyweston, a small village on the north-eastern edge of Northamptonshire near Stamford, has been widely valued for its distinctive appearance.

Collyweston slate is still mined but difficult to get hold of

The historian Alec Clifton-Taylor said: "I do not believe that any other roofing material can match the visual attraction of Collyweston slating.

"When newly dressed and fixed it has a soft variety of colour. It then matures with age."

Roofers have described it as "unique".

It is, however, difficult to get hold of, and North Northamptonshire Council said only one supplier could produce enough slate for the Kettering Library project within the two-year timescale.

As the building is Grade II listed, conservation experts have insisted that the Collyweston slate roof should be replaced like-for-like.

The Council said the slate has now been ordered, but existing slates will be used where possible.

Water got into the library via the roof and caused damage to furniture

Applications for planning permission and listed building consent have been submitted, and decisions will be made by the planning committee in due course.

Library services have been temporarily moved to the new Cornerstone building next to the old library.

When the roof repairs get under way, a temporary roof will be put in place to allow work to go ahead without further damage to the building.

Scaffolding will be installed once planning permission has been obtained.

North Northamptonshire Council said the budget for the project remained the same as that approved by the council last year and an updated timescale would be published once a contractor had been appointed.