A COMMUNITY centre in Basingstoke has closed after dangerous concrete that is prone to collapse has been found in the community library part of the building.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) has confirmed that Westside Community Centre has closed as a precautionary measure.

The news comes after RAAC concrete panels have been identified in the community library part of the building attached to the centre in South Ham.

RAAC is a lightweight, bubbly form of concrete that is usually found on roofs and occasionally on walls and floors but is known to be weak and less durable.

READ MORE: Only one Hampshire school has dangerous concrete prone to collapse

A spokesperson for BDBC said: "A surveyor has confirmed that RAAC concrete panels have been identified in the community library part of the building attached to Westside Community Centre in South Ham.

"As a precaution, while further investigations are carried out, we have closed the centre with immediate effect.

"We are working with the Westside Community Association to support them in relocating activities as quickly as possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and hope to be able to minimise disruption to centre users."

The material was favoured in construction projects because of its lightweight thermal properties.

Schools, hospitals and various other public buildings from the 1950s to the mid-1990s were built using the material.

Dame Maria has said the centre must "be a top priority for mitigation works so it can reopen as quickly as possible without compromising safety”.

She said: “The services provided at Westside Community Centre are essential to the local community and I have already been in contact with the Government to ask that a plan to ensure the safe reopening of the Community Centre is made a top priority.”

According to the MP, the county council identified the building was suspected of having RAAC in its construction in June and the further inspections undertaken have confirmed this is the case and that closure is required because of the location of the RAAC material.

SEE ALSO: Parents of students at Cranbourne College react to dangerous concrete

The material was also confirmed to be present in one building at Cranbourne School earlier this year and the school is working with the Government to put in place a plan for building works which will be fully funded by the Department for Education. 

A National Audit Office report completed earlier this year said the concrete had been confirmed in at least 65 schools in England after 196 completed surveys, with 24 requiring emergency action.

In June, ministers launched a government-wide inquiry into the use of RAAC in public buildings to look into how many of the thousands of government buildings were constructed with it.

The centre told the Gazette they did not want to comment at this time.