Future of Raac-hit community centre still in doubt

The future of a community centre remains uncertain a year after it was suddenly closed due to an unsafe roof.

Westside Community Centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire, was shut in September 2023 after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) - a material prone to decay and collapse - was found in roof panels.

The centre is part of an affected complex which previously hosted services including South Ham Community Library, a pre-school and a community pantry.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which manages part of the site, said it was still investigating options for the future.

Nicky Skeats, who helped to run the community centre for 40 years, said the continuing closure was "heartbreaking".

She said: "It's horrible coming over here every week watching it just go. And there's so many people in the community [who] need it."

Centre manager Nicky Blunden said: "The services that we actually lost were huge. We had lunch clubs going on, we worked with Age Concern.

"Budgeting, money management, potty training, behaviour management - it's those things we've lost.

"Hopefully the residents of South Ham will start seeing that we are trying really hard to get these services up and running again."

The pantry now operates from a cabin in the car park while the pre-school was also relocated.

Hampshire County Council said the Raac materials were found within an area of the library, which it owns.

It said: "We appreciate this is an inconvenience for residents and we continue to work with Basingstoke and Deane on a range of possible options."

The borough council, which owns the community centre, said more structural surveys were needed to "consider the most cost-effective options for the future of the building".

Councillor John McKay, in charge of communities, said: "We continue to do all we can to find temporary solutions following the closure."

He said a nearby empty shop had been refurbished to host activities and other options were being actively explored.

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