PLANS to improve disabled access to the Radcliffe Camera have been approved.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the plans, despite some concern from users of the building.

Work will now start on moving the entrance to the historic library to a new door opposite the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

The existing entrance – on the other side opposite the Bodleian Library – has steps and a ramp for wheelchair users. It will now only be used only in emergencies.

Reading out comments from the Oxford Mail website, Oxford City Council ’s west area planning committee heard disabled people were unable to get to the lower reading room.

One comment said: “Oxford’s library system is the best in the UK if not the world; it’s time we brought our buildings up to the same impeccable standard.

“The only library in this country which I need but cannot access is at my very own institution, here in Oxford.”

The £350,000 facelift will also see the Bodleian Library’s history faculty library moved into the upper camera and a sound-proof space built to contain it.

Councillor Van Coulter said: “I was on crutches for the greater part of 2009 and I accept that quite a few people find it difficult to get in and out of this facility.

“This is one of the jewels of the university, one of the jewels of the city.

“This adaptation is required to make it an inclusive facility for all students at Oxford.”

Opponents to the plans told the council there were very few disabled users of the library and that the changes would mean security would become more lax.

The plans were approved at a meeting at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday.