2 weeks Ago
Large levels of asbestos found in a Swindon church hall have forced it to close and the future of the venue remains uncertain. St Michael’s Hall of St Michael’s Church closed last month due to safety concerns, leaving Highworth Community Centre to cancel their film nights and find an alternative location at the United Reformed Church, High Street. The Church Council warned in September that there was no “quick fix” to the asbestos issue.
A spokesperson from St Michael’s Church Council said: "The Parochial Church Council (PCC) have made the difficult and reluctant decision to temporarily close St Michael's Hall. Read More: Tributes to one of town centre's most recognisable faces after death "Ongoing repairs have been undertaken over the last few years to keep the hall open but an issue developed with the ceiling in late 2023 which has now developed into a risk to hall users. Be the first to know with the Swindon Advertiser📱 Subscribe to get rid of adverts, enjoy access to our digital archives, read exclusive stories and much more! Your community's stories await - https://t.
co/ayrpkI4RBy Photo: Jacquie Webb pic.twitter.com/nIwWUsh6cD "Due to large parts of the building, including the ceiling and roof, being made of asbestos, a 'quick fix' is not possible.
"Since February 2024 the PCC have commissioned surveys and inspections of the hall which are ongoing. Once we have the full findings, a public meeting will be held to discuss the future of the hall." Residents came together on Monday, October 21 to discuss the future of the Church Hall to ensure it can continue serving the community.
Although no decisions have yet been made, local groups are already looking to use the space once the required maintenance work has been completed. Reverend Phil Goodey said: “We had a very productive meeting on Monday, as we discussed the future of St Michael’s Hall. "We learnt a lot about its history, what was on the site before the hall was built and several groups who have historically used the hall told stories of their time there.
Read More: Family-run fish and chip shop gets first food hygiene rating “It was clarified that the hall was the property of St Michael's Church and any proceeds from the hall and site could only be used for ecclesiastical purposes. “No firm decisions were made, but the general consensus was that the hall has reached the end of its working life and we will now be looking at a variety of options. “Several groups have expressed an interest in the site and St Michael's Church Council will be looking to make the best use of it to support the vision and mission of the church, building the Kingdom of God in Highworth.
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