As
anticipated there has been considerable interest in the temporary closure of
Mapledurham Pavilion and the impact on users.
Finding alternative available accommodation in the area is challenging as community space, as anyone who has tried to book space will know, is well-used and always in high demand. This highlights, if ever it were needed, the huge importance the Pavilion plays for our community. Residents of all ages benefit from organisations from babies to retired residents.
What happens next hangs on the results of the intrusive survey which RBC has commissioned. For information, here is the latest response provided to me by Reading Borough Council:
Dear Cllr Ballsdon
You requested a brief
history of the latest inspection of the hall.
Following a report that the
roof was leaking into a store the building was visited by the Corporate Clerk
of Works within Property services to arrange repairs. While there on the
Thursday 14th January he was concerned about the cladding on
the interior of the south facing wall which looked insecure. Given the use of
the building and possibility of large panels becoming dislodged and exposed
finger traps etc he raised his concerns with the Programme Manager within the
Council’s Leisure and Recreation Team the following day (Friday 15th).
A meeting on site first thing on Monday was agreed to assess the
situation. At that meeting it was agreed to seek specialist advice as
they could not tell the condition of the structure below and there may be some
flexing in the wall.
Advice was sought from the
Property Services Manager who recommended engaging KRP consulting engineers who
have previous knowledge of the facility.
The Clerk Of Works met KRP
at Mapledurham on Tuesday 19th January.
On the 20th January
the engineer fed back his observations recommending the closure of the
facility. This was in the form of an email not a formal report as the extent of
inspection was limited in both time and ability to access supporting sub
structure. However from what he was able to establish from his initial
inspection he made the following recommendation.
“We consider that
progressive deterioration has most likely occurred, particularly to the timber
framed structural elements, primarily as a result of damp ingress, although we
cannot identify the extent or rate of progression.
In view of these
uncertainties, for Health & Safety reasons, we suggest that the building be
taken out of use until the intrusive investigation is carried out, the extent
of the defects identified, and a programme of remedial works undertaken”.
The hall was then closed on
the 21st January. It was also decided that a detailed intrusive
survey was required and that KRP be commissioned to undertake this work to
produce a report to allow the council to identify the best way forward. This is
being arranged for the six week closure which will likely include scaffolding
parts of the building to access roof voids, removal of some cladding and
necessary reinstatement of damage caused during the survey.
As the service manager for
Leisure and Recreation I was aware of the progress of these events and made
reference to the inspection at the management meeting on the evening of the 20th.
Kind regards
Ben Stanesby
