Wiltshire Council is celebrating another important milestone as the first community campus in the county opens its library and cafe to the families on Thursday.

Springfield Community Campus has already welcomed Corsham's sports clubs, community groups and gym users when the sports hall, squash court, flexible community rooms and temporary fitness suite were opened last month.

Now the latest phase of the community campus programme is complete as Corsham Shadow Community Operation Board (COB) witnesses the completion of three years of hard work.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for campuses, will be at Springfield Community Campus library for the opening on Thursday.

The library has 15,000 items to borrow with £10,000 spent on new stock. The free to join service has a huge range of books and information, space to study, read and relax, free interest access with bookable PCs or free Wi-Fi.

Visitors can also enjoy a range of EBooks, DVDs, CDs, talking books and a range of activities and events for all the family to enjoy.

The new cafe will be open from 10am on Thursday.

Further services including the Neighbourhood Policing Team, services and facilities for young people and adults with learning difficulties, and a climbing wall will be available from September.

Community involvement has been an essential part of the campus programme. Volunteers representing user and other community groups as part of the COB, worked with Wiltshire Council to develop plans for the campus.

Springfield Community Campus is the first of 18 being developed by Wiltshire Council over the next few years. The campus programme will improve the delivery of local services in communities, while making maximum and efficient use of public sector buildings.

Construction work on Wiltshire’s second campus in Salisbury has started and plans for the campuses in Melksham and Tisbury have recently been granted planning approval, with Cricklade, Calne and Pewsey following on shortly.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for campuses, said: “We are delighted that the community in Corsham can finally enjoy the benefits of all of our mutual hard work to deliver what is a fantastic local facility.

"Wiltshire Council and all the volunteers on the Corsham Shadow Community Operation Board have worked tirelessly and we are now seeing the community using the vital services the Springfield Community Campus has to offer.

“I am very much looking forward to being at the opening of the library part of the new Springfield Campus.”

Alan MacRae, chairman of Corsham Area Board, said: “We are extremely proud Corsham is home to Wiltshire’s first community campus.

“The new library, with 10,000 new books, and the cafe, the exhibition space all work together to make a space where people will want to spend time. Not just visit, but visit and stay.”

For more information people should visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communitycampuses or follow Springfield Community Campus on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/corshamcampus.