A LIBRARY has taken one step closer to becoming the third community run facility in the Vale.

Dinas Powys Library was one of five named by the Vale council as being candidates to become community run and the group seeking to take it over has now achieved official charity status.

The Dinas Powys Library steering committee is set to take over the running of the library when the final details are ironed out.

Cabinet agreed in February to support the creation of community run libraries at Dinas as well as St Athan and Rhoose.

Wenvoe and Sully have already been overtaken by community groups.

It is estimated that this scheme will save the Vale council more than £500,000.

Each service will be entirely run by volunteers who have received training from the Vale's library service

Vale and community councillor and chairman of the steering committee, Chris Franks said: "The community library has achieved charity status and we are looking forward to the transfer of responsibilities from the Vale council.

The library working group has also received a £1250 donation from the Dinas Powys Music Festival Committee.

Chairman of the festival committee, Mark Thompson said: "We are pleased to back the community library.

"It would be a great shame if we lost library facilities in Dinas Powys."

Cllr Franks added: "This donation is a huge vote of confidence in the next phase of the life of the library.

"Now that the community library has achieved charitable status, this is another step forward.

"However, it is important that the community library is more than just books so we would encourage ideas and suggestions from the public.

"We want it to be a busy and vibrant place."