AN archaeological dig is being carried out to see if there is anything important beneath the site of High Wycombe's Western Sector development.

Developers MAB have taken on a firm of consultants to check whether there are ancient remains underground.

David Easson, the managing director of MAB, said the site survey was part of the schedule of work at the site.

"The design of the project is progressing well and should be on show to the public in June," he said.

Wycombe district councillor Alan Fulford, chairman of the council's Western Sector steering group, said the submission of a detailed planning application in the summer would be the next big milestone.

But he said next week's work on site was significant.

"This is preparatory work that has to be done before the construction can start. The fact that they are doing it is evidence that people are committed to it and to moving it forward."

Buckinghamshire County Council put aside £900,000 to spend this year on the first phase of building a new library for High Wycombe as part of the Western Sector development.

The money won't be needed until 2002/3 said council leader David Shakespeare.

The current library would be sold, he said, to help with the new library's costs.