THE GRAND HALL AND CHARTER THEATRE WITHIN THE GUILD HALL CLOSED PENDING SURVEY AMID NATIONAL ROOFING FEARS
11th of September, 2023
THE GRAND HALL AND CHARTER THEATRE WITHIN THE GUILD HALL CLOSED PENDING SURVEY AMID NATIONAL ROOFING FEARS
It is believed that RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) is present in the roof panels of the Grand Hall and Charter Theatre within the Guild Hall. Following national guidance and pending a thorough investigation by specialist structural engineers, both venues will remain closed and secured.
A spokesperson for Preston City Council said: “We are taking a cautious and ‘safety first’ approach by securing the Grand Hall and Charter Theatre auditoria, until specialist consultant structural engineers can carry out a more detailed inspection. Unfortunately, we understand that this may take some time, as the experts required to carry out this very particular type of work are naturally prioritising school inspections. As a responsible Council, the safety of the public and our colleagues must be our number one priority.
“The venues themselves are not currently in use, but we have been working inside both on a range of safety and associated works. A small number of future events were planned for this year, and we are in discussion with the organisers about these.
“The remainder of the Guild Hall, including the ground floor trading units and Harris Library remain open for business.”
The closure follows the news that five other regional theatres, including The National Theatre, have all been forced to shut pending further investigations.