Sands Centre auditorium won't reopen this year
It's been shut since September
Last updated 2nd May 2024
THE Sands Centre auditorium in Carlisle, which has been closed since September, will not be reopened this year, it has been revealed.
In September it was announced that events at the centre’s auditorium had been postponed following the change in government guidance on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). It had originally been found to be present in the auditorium roof in 2019.
This initially led to the scrapping of Shrek The Musical along with three other scheduled events in the month ahead, including The Simon & Garfunkel Story and Fastlove: A Tribute to George Michael.
At the time a Cumberland Council spokesman reiterated that the new main building of Sands Centre, which houses pools, gym, sports halls, café, bars, and restaurant, remained unaffected and open.
On Tuesday (April 30), during a meeting of the council at the Civic Centre in Carlisle, when members were discussing an annual report relating to call in and urgency rules the subject over the continued closure was raised.
Councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent Group) asked the council leader, councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour) about the closure.
He said nothing had been said about the centre or the contractor which was carrying out the work to repair the ceiling. He added: “People need to know about the Sands.”
Cllr Fryer confirmed that it would not reopen this year and added:
“It won’t be opened until it’s safe and secure. I will write to you with the details about the contractor.”
A Cumberland Council spokesperson said:
“We have appointed Carlisle-based contractor Cubby Construction Ltd for the design and build of the replacement Sands Centre RAAC roof.
“Following a detailed structural assessment of the roof last year by specialist engineers, a recommendation was put forward to replace the RAAC panels in the auditorium roof.
“The assessment of the roof was undertaken following the change in government guidance on the use of RAAC in buildings.
“We are now working with the contractor to finalise a design and programme to undertake the works. This work is nearing competition.
“Funding has already been secured from within existing council budgets. The costs and detailed timeframes will be confirmed once the final design work has been completed.”