THE man in charge of the county’s library service has criticised the design of the new £60m library and history centre - The Hive.

The unmistakable and unmissable appearance – with shiny gold cladding that reflects sunlight, massive window panes and the building’s unusual shape – has divided public opinion ever since designers first put pencil to paper.

While there have been one or two dissenting voices in council chambers in the Guildhall and at County Hall, the majority, especially those with the power, have backed the design, which won an international award in October 2009 and was shortlisted for two others.

The facility’s construction is nearly complete and there are just five months to go before the building in the Butts, Worcester, opens to the public.

However, county councillor John Campion, the man in charge of libraries as part of his localism and communities portfolio, has made a somewhat embarrassing admission considering the authority is about to start pumping more than £1 million a year into the project, which is also funded by the University of Worcester and, to a lesser extent, the city council.

Councillor Campion said: “For me, architecturally, I may be a bit of a philistine and from the outside it’s not my cup of tea, I’m sorry.”

While the exterior of the building might not suit Coun Campion’s taste, he did go on to praise what is going on inside.

“Inside, that space really is inspirational,” he said at a meeting of full council.

“It really does support and develop that taste for learning.

“I really do think we have invested in a generational facility in the county and it is something to be proud of.”

Meanwhile, Coun Campion indicated he was looking at ways to make some of the county’s libraries more business-like after Councillor Richard Udall, Labour, asked whether there were plans to turn them into community hubs with coffee shops.

Coun Campion, a Conservative, said there were already coffee machines but that it was an area the council wanted to explore.

“It won’t necessarily work in our smaller premises but there is work going on to see whether concessions can be procured that would see a more corporate approach to our libraries,” he said.

“Ultimately, it is important in terms of income but I don’t want to take away other community space which the community values or indeed make our libraries compete with other retail that is close by.

“But where it is possible, places like Redditch for example, these are things we are exploring.”