Councillors agree £4m for repair work to Whitchurch community centre 'riddled' with danger concrete

Shropshire Council's cabinet has approved a decision to set aside the funds for Whitchurch Civic Centre - although no date is yet set for work to take place.

Parts of the centre have been unusable since 2023, when the presence of the potentially dangerous concrete RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was discovered.

The cabinet decision allocates the money in its capital strategy.

It can be used in two ways - towards the rebuilding of the centre if match-funding can be secured, or for repairs to the affected areas of the centre, specifically the roof.

Councillor Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for housing and assets, said everyone had been "hit quite hard" by the 2023 discovery that the centre was 'riddled', adding that it had been traumatic for the people of the town.

He said: "At that point we made a series of commitments - that we would bring forward as quickly as possible a proposal to re-provide a facility that was wanted by the people of the town on the site and we would continue to provide services we have in the meantime from the civic centre."

Councillor Carroll said further work will now take place make sure that a reconfigured civic centre provides a usable space "as wanted by the people who use the centre".

Whitchurch Councillors Peggy Mullock and Thomas Biggins both thanked the cabinet members, the council officers, and the people of the town who had supported the project.

In a statement following the decision Councillor Carroll said: "We know the importance of the Civic Centre to Whitchurch and to people who live in and around the town and  I’m delighted that Cabinet has agreed to identify up to £4m of capital funding to help bring the Centre back into use. Whether this means a new roof or a complete rebuild will now depend on whether the working group and external partners can secure the additional Government or other external funding that a rebuild would require.

“And before any work takes place the needs analysis will enable us to establish what facilities and services the people of Whitchurch and the surrounding area want and need. This will help ensure that the Centre best meets the need of the town and that it is a viable and fit for purpose facility for years to come.”

A statement from Whitchurch Town Council working group members Councillor Andy Hall, Mayor of Whitchurch, and Mike McDonald, Proper Officer, added: “We are delighted to have reached this point, which is testament to the effort and determination displayed by the Civic Centre working group – and we hope it gives further impetus to finding the best and, most importantly, right solution for the building. We also thank Shropshire Council’s Cabinet for their foresight in considering the importance of the building as a vital asset within our community.

“During recent months, we have received opinion from small groups who previously used the Centre to varying degrees – however a full, strategic ‘needs analysis’, which extends the results of the initial public consultation, will give an opportunity for everyone to have a voice in shaping the future of the Civic Centre, rather than a select few. We hope to be able to make rapid, unencumbered, progress with this as soon as possible.

“This will, inevitably, take some time – but it is an important step in Whitchurch Town Council’s future management of a revitalised facility, which will meet the future needs of our residents in the most appropriate way.”

The council said feasibility study work carried out so far on the project has included looking at how the centre can be economically and efficiently run and managed in the future by Whitchurch Town Council.