KELLY’S Kitchen will finally close next year when work on Christchurch Library gets underway.

The High Street café in Christchurch fought a long battle to try and stay in their leased premises next door to the library for years but were finally defeated when a judicial review at the High Court found in favour of Dorset County Council.

The council’s plans to improve the library have proved controversial, with thousands of people including many members of Christchurch Borough Council fighting to prevent the café’s closure.

Terry Kelly said: “We would like to sincerely thank all of our customers and supporters for their tireless efforts writing letters and signing petitions aiding our campaign to resist the county council plans, without your help we would have had to go five years ago.

“We like so many others doubted that this extension would ever be built believing that an extension to one library when others are being forced to close is an extravagance too far in the present financial climate.

“I still find it very hard to believe that this is the best way to spend very precious rate payers money.

“To prove their intention to us the county council have signed an undertaking to say that they will proceed with this project, and say they have the funds in place to commence work when we give them possession on March 1, 2012.

“And they will complete the project and open the extended library in spring 2013.

“We now have five months to try to relocate Kelly’s Kitchen somewhere in Christchurch High Street and try to save thirteen jobs.

“We are very hopeful that this can be achieved and look forward to serving you in a newly fitted restaurant for many years to come.”