MP Barry Sheerman has joined a campaign against plans to close an historic library.

Kirklees Council plans to close Almondbury Library at Stocks Walk and move facilities to a Sure Start centre to be built on the Fussey Allotments site.

The library – built in 1904 by Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carniegie – could be sold for residential development.

Huddersfield MP Mr Sheerman has expressed support for Friends of Almondbury Library (Foal), who formed in December against Kirklees’ proposal.

So far 600 residents have signed a petition to keep the library open.

Now the group has applied to English Heritage to have the building listed. A public meeting has been called at Almondbury Working Men’s Club on January 22.

Residents and Mr Sheerman fear the council’s proposals will damage the village’s character.

Mr Sheerman said: “I’m very unhappy they’re planning to close it.

“Almondbury is an important historical quarter of Huddersfield. It’s an integral part of that historic past.

“I’m passionately in favour of Sure Start, but this is not what local people want.

“The old building could be extended in range and scope without having to move.

“Everyone fears it will be redeveloped as flats and we’ve got enough of them already.”

“We must continue to invest in historic Almondbury by breathing new life into buildings which are over 100 years old.”

Foal campaign coordinator Dot Goodall said: “We are privileged to have a library linked to Carniegie.

“The current library is a vibrant and popular part of the village and to move it would run the risk of alienating these core user groups when there is no guarantee that the new facility would attract new users.”

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: “It is proposed that a brand new library and information centre will be built within the community, which will provide access to a wider range of books, more public access computers, greater space for library groups as well as a new Sure Start Children’s Centre.

“Creating one building for a library and information centre and children’s centre provides Almondbury with a single point for residents enquiries.

“It also enables the library service to build upon the services for children and create the library users of the future.

“The public will be able to access a range of council services all under one roof, including sorting out council tax issues, getting assistance with completing council forms, accessing free methods of contacting council services via telephone, mail or online, as well as attending surgeries to deal with specific issues in the community.

“Other successful library and information centres have opened up in Birstall, Skelmanthorpe, Shepley, Lindley, Deighton and the Birkby and Fartown area, resulting in 47% more residents using the facilities, an 8% increase in books loaned, increased customer satisfaction and substantially greater use of computers.

“Other new centres are in the pipeline in the Thornhill Lees area of Dewsbury and the Rawthorpe and Dalton area of Huddersfield.

“There are currently no plans whatsoever for the site of the current library.

“Part of the consultation is asking local people what they would like to see the old building used for.”

Residents of Almondbury and the surrounding area are invited to the meeting on January 22 at 6.30pm at the Working Men’s Club at Southfield Road, Almondbury.

Councillors Elizabeth Smaje and Almondbury councillors John Smithson, Ann Denham and Linda Wilkinson will be on hand to answer questions.

Almondbury councillors have circulated an information sheet and questionnaire to all homes in the area asking residents for their thoughts.