KIRKHAM library is to miss out on its share of a £2.3 million technology boost, because plans meant the library would have to move premises.

The announcement of the cash boost, to install state of the art internet equipment at all libraries throughout Lancashire, was made in August by Lancashire County Council's Libraries and Lifelong Learning Committee.

But an investigation into the proposals showed that Kirkham would have to close its current premises and move to new library facilities within Carr Hill High School.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said the public were convinced the library was earmarked for closure, and didn't believe the extra money would be spent on developing new facilities at Carr Hill.

He said: "We were looking to spend up to £50,000 on internet facilities at the current Kirkham library, but there simply wasn't the space." He went on to say that to expand would have cost £350,000, and they could have extended the Carr Hill facilities for a lot less, but the public didn't want to see the existing site close.

Chairman of the Libraries and Lifelong Learning Committee, Dorothy Westell, said the news was "a bitter disappointment to library users and potential future users in Kirkham.

"What particularly saddens me is that we have only recently been forced to turn down a generous offer to share facilities at Carr Hill High School after opposition from town and borough councillors."

Mrs Westell said the new 400 square metre library would have offered longer opening hours, vastly improved computer facilities and more books than ever before, adding: "There will be no threat to library services in Kirkham and Wesham from this committee -- we are looking to improve them. It's a shame others didn't share this motive."