BRECON’S £14 million y Gaer cultural centre has opened its doors for the first time.

Brecon resident Geoff Goodenough was among the first to enter the new build library which has been built adjacent to the 177-year-old Shire Hall that houses the Brecknock Museum which has been closed since 2011 when refurbishment work started.

Mr Goodenough, who entered via the Glamorgan Street entrance when the doors opened at 9.30am, said he was particularly interested to see how the old and new buildings had been combined.

"I wanted to see how it has all come together.’

"I’m a retired architect so I’d like to see the architecture and how well it has been designed."

Construction work had fallen behind schedule, with opening dates missed both last year and this year, while the project has also ran £5m over budget. In July Powys council said it was considering re-allocating some parts of the building to the NPTC College, to help it meet running costs, and it is still inviting expressions of interest from interested parties that could share some of the space.

The possibility of the college using part of the centre prompted hundreds of people to attend a public meeting at the Castle Hotel in August including Mr Goodenough.

"I was one of those present at the big meeting at The Castle Hotel," said Mr Goodenough who complained that he didn’t think enough information had been given about the council’s plans.

Regular library user Cath Hudson said she was pleased the facility had opened with the library in Ship Street having closed at the beginning of November. She was one of a steady stream of visitors within a short period of the doors opening.

"I always use the library so I have come to have a nosey. I miss the library since it closed, I like the library but I didn’t like the old building.

"It has been a long time and there’s been a lot of delays but I hope it’s worth while. I know people complain about the college but they have got to get money from somewhere to pay for it."

As well as staff from the former library in Ship Street y Gaer is staffed by volunteers with more than 70 having signed up.

Among those is Andrew Marshall, who was already volunteering at the former library. He said: "I was the library’s first volunteer about over three years ago. I love it and I have always loved libraries."

Dr Mervyn Bramley, of the Brecknock Society which has put more than £400,000 in various ways into the project, was one of a number of people to bring chocolates and biscuits for the staff and volunteers.

He said he was pleased despite the sometimes troubled construction period the building has now opened: "I’m delighted to see it get over the line and agree there have been complications but I’m delighted we are all working together now to deliver this really exciting asset for the whole of Breconshire."

Powys council chief executive Dr Caroline Turner also attended on the first morning as well as a number of councillors from the ruling cabinet and local councillors.

She said: "It is a high quality facility for the people of Brecon and the surrounding area. It has taken a while but we have got everything together today and I hope everyone comes in to see the facility and continue to do so for many years to come."