THE leader of Lancashire County Council has accused the people behind Preston's massive Tithebarn regeneration project of going back on a promise to make the city's library a centrepiece of the new scheme.

Coun Hazel Harding hit out during a meeting of the county authority's cabinet, which had been asked by Preston City Council to respond to the proposals.

As well as concerns that the massive overhaul of the area around Preston bus station will not relieve the city's traffic problems, fears are growing that Preston central library -- housed within the prestigious Harris Museum -- will be sidelined in favour of retail developments.

An initial plan for the area, submitted by the Duke of Westminster's firm Grosvenor Estates, suggests that the new library should be built on the first floor of a shopping centre, rather than have its own ground floor building.

Coun Harding said such a proposition would be unacceptable.

She said: "When we were first involved in discussions about the Tithebarn project, we were assured that it would be about improving both retail and cultural facilities in the town.

"We were assured the library would have a prominent position and would be key to the whole project.

"It seems to me that something has changed to create more retail space at ground level at the expense of the library.

"Having it on the first floor of a shopping centre isn't acceptable to me. It should be the main facility within a complex, not a sideline."

County councillor Marcus Johnstone, whose lifelong learning portfolio includes libraries, said: "Preston is our flagship library for the whole county.

"We are talking about £10 million to £14 million of capital funds to relocate it and for that sort of money we need to know it is going to benefit users."

County councillor Brian Johnson added: "This is a unique chance to totally improve Preston. It has to be done correctly and that includes making sure traffic problems are sorted."

Chris Trinick, chief executive of the county council, said: "I would doubt the Department of Culture, Media and Sport would support a proposal to put a library on the first floor of a shopping centre."

Asked about the criticisms a spokesman for Preston City Council said the plan was only a draft proposal.

"The draft masterplan shows the new library located right at the heart of the redevelopment with easy access from the bus station and close by shops and other facilities.

"We'll be having further discussions with Lancashire County Council about the library and how it is incorporated into the Tithebarn scheme."