Promised £4m funding for civic centre not found

The centre has been closed since September 2023 after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found

Money that was supposed to be set aside to bring Whitchurch Civic Centre back into use has not been identified, Shropshire Council has revealed.

The centre has been closed since September 2023 after it was discovered to have used potentially dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).

In February, when the authority was run by the Conservatives, its cabinet agreed to commit up to £4m within its capital strategy towards the repair or rebuilding of the centre.

But the council's current administration, run by the Liberal Democrats, confirmed that no funding was identified and put into the capital programme.

The BBC has contacted the Conservatives for comment.

The funding was due to be used to rebuild and redevelop the site or create a new roof for the centre, depending on whether or not government or external funding could be secured.

The council said the likely aspiration was to redevelop the site and create a new, modern, fit-for-purpose and energy-efficient building.

This was emerging as the preferred option, said the council, as opposed to replacing just the roof.

'Left in limbo'

Andy Hall, who is both a Shropshire and Whitchurch town councillor, said he was "extremely disappointed" that the people in the town had been"hoodwinked into believing £4m had been set aside from the Conservative administration".

"Money was set aside for this but it doesn't exist," said Hall.

"It leaves us in limbo until we have a finance meeting and identify where the money can come from."

The North Shropshire Conservative Association has been contacted for comment.

Roger Evans, the council's cabinet member for finance said: "I understand the expectation and the need for Whitchurch to have a functioning civic centre and promise that we will continue to discuss and share future plans".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.