Diss Community Centre faces demolition over Raac in roof
The cost of replacing the roof is expected to be in the region of £400,000
A Norfolk community centre is facing demolition because of the rising cost of replacing its roof, which is made of crumbling concrete.
Diss Town Council says it may have to knock down the youth centre on Shelfanger Road, which was forced to close in December after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was discovered in its ceiling.
The cost of replacing the roof is expected to be in the region of £400,000 and the council is now considering “several options”, including demolition.
Diss Youth and Community Centre is owned by the council and members said they recognised the “affinity” that local people have for the facility.
The options under consideration include replacing the roof, selling the site and building a new facility elsewhere, or rebuilding the centre in its current location.
Councillors noted at a recent meeting that the reopening of the centre would be a “long-term project” with costs already rising.
A spokesman for the Diss Town Council said: “This is a complex decision, requiring significant investment, which we need to get right.
“We will be working with user groups and members of the community to ensure we get the best outcomes for Diss taxpayers.”