Community centre at risk due to asbestos and RAAC

The future of a community centre is still uncertain after it closed due to the discovery of asbestos and reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Westside Community Centre in Basingstoke was shut in September after the harmful materials were found.

RAAC is a lightweight material used mostly in flat roofing, which is susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture.

Joint owners of the centre, Hampshire County Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, are now considering whether to refurbish or demolish the building.

South Ham Community Library, which was hosted by the centre, has since had to close.

Westside Community Association has been relocated and a community food pantry is now operating from a converted shipping container in the car park.

Councillor John McKay, from Hampshire Council Council, said it's "difficult to say" what the long-term solution will be for the centre as they are still waiting for more analysis to be done.

He said: "The important thing for people to understand is the council's commitment to South Ham as an important community."

He added: "It's too hard to predict what the endgame will be, but we're fairly close to having costs identified for refurbishment versus demolition and rebuilding involving both the councils.

"It's not certain that it won't reopen but we have to recognise the complexity of RAAC and the asbestos in the building. It may turn out to be more cost effective to look at other options."

Vicki Francis, deputy manager of Westside Community association, said: "Originally we were quite shocked. We spent the whole summer in the building running our project and then we got told that we weren't allowed in there.

"The South Ham community have been great. I think they realised that it's out of our hands and that we're doing everything we can."

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