SIX options for the future of Whitchurch’s Civic Centre have been set out by the working party responsible for it.

The group has already met to consider options for the future of the Civic Centre – in High Street – after specialist engineers found that Raac exists across the majority of the building and that it has major structural issues.

Made up of local Shropshire Council and Whitchurch Town Council councillors and officers, the group is set to meet at least once a month to consider future options for the Centre, which has been closed since last year.

OTHER NEWS: 

Six future options for the site have been drawn up and the group will consider each of these, before a business case is drawn up for each, to include appropriate surveys, appraisals, assessments and designs.

These options are: Doing nothing and closing the building permanently or Raac to remain in place and mitigated through internal structural framework, repairs to spalled concrete and full replacement of roof membranes. Also, replacement of structural roof and associated essential items.

There are three demolition options – clearing of the site, rebuild as existing facility or redevelopment of the site.

Shropshire Council has confirmed that any business cases and recommendations will go out to public consultation before being considered by Cabinet.

Shropshire Council will also work with North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan to seek central Government for funding towards the cost of these options.

Other than the sports/market hall, the Civic Centre will remain closed for public safety and work is continuing to find alternative provision for the library and community services in the town centre.

Councillor Peggy Mullock, for Whitchurch North, said: ““The Civic Centre building remains in a very poor condition because of RAAC.

“But no decisions have been made about the future of the building and six possible options are on the table.

“We know the importance of the Civic Centre to Whitchurch to local people.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@whitchurchherald.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

“As a group, we’ll be considering the six options in detail, and carefully examining the business case for each before seeking the views of the community and making our recommendation to Cabinet.”

Whitchurch mayor Councillor Andy Hall,  said: “Whitchurch Town Council will shortly relocate to new premises to provide a home for many community groups who were displaced by the closure of the Civic Centre, alongside a new base for council operations.

“We will continue to fully participate in the working group to ensure that the views of Whitchurch residents are fully heard and considered as part of the wider discussion regarding the future of the Civic Centre complex, to meet current and anticipated need, using an evidence-based approach.”