A ROW is brewing over plans to expand Christchurch library into an adjoining High Street premises occupied by the Kelly's Kitchen restaurant.

After several years of negotiations, Dorset County Council, which owns the building, has ended the lease on the restaurant and unveiled plans to absorb the building into an extended library.

Now Kelly's Kitchen customers are being canvassed to sign a petition and object to the county council's proposals, which would end a long-established restaurant and family business in the town with the loss of several jobs.

County library officials say the extra space is needed to bring the Druitt library - housed in the 19th century former family home of local historian and benefactor Herbert Druitt - up to the standards demanded by a town of the size of modern day Christchurch and its catchment area.

The planned internal alterations would provide extra ground floor space for more books, reference materials, computers and study areas and increased room for children's activities.

Upper floors are earmarked for meeting rooms and new accommodation for the county council's registration service.

The restaurant is a two-storey extension to the original Georgian town house and forms part of a grade II listed building in the town centre conservation area. Both Christchurch council and English Heritage are statutory consultees whose comments and possible objections will have to be taken into account by the planners at Dorchester.

The café has been run for the past 15 years by Rose Kelly, 50, and her husband Terry, 53.

Mrs Kelly said: "It is absolutely ludicrous. We have had 100 objection letters. I am overwhelmed by the support we have had. We'll fight this all the way. We will not take this lying down."