Asbestos-hit club to reopen (From This Is Wiltshire)

Asbestos-hit club to reopen

1:22pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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A YOUTH club for teenagers near Melksham is to reopen its doors next month after organisers' best efforts to get everything back on track.

The Bowerhill Youth Club, which is based in the pavilion on Bowerhill Sports Fields, closed in April after asbestos was found in the building.

This meant the group, which meets on Wednesday evenings not only had to vacate the building, but organisers had to use savings to redecorate the facility after the remedial work had taken place.

Treasurer Janet Jory said it had been a struggle and a lot of going back and forth to council offices to make sure the building was fit for use.

Mrs Jory said the group had only decorated their area a year earlier, but had to do it again after the asbestos discovery.

"Because of the suspected asbestos they had to carry out work on the ceiling," she said.

"Luckily we had some money that we had saved and we had to use £300 of this to redecorate.

"I have since applied for a grant from Melksham Without Parish Council and we now have that £300 again though.

"The young people were very disappointed when we had to close, but it was beyond our control.

"They kept asking us when we were going to reopen."

Mrs Jory said it has taken organisers several hours a week sending letters and making calls to ensure the club can reopen on Wednesday August 6.

A spokesman for West Wiltshire District Council said the pavilion is owned by Wiltshire County Council but is leased by the district council.

He said: "We did a survey of all our buildings and found asbestos there earlier in the year.

"We shut the building and called in an independent contractor which was paid for by the county council on our behalf.

"It has now been given the all clear and is available for use again."

The re-opening night of the youth club will begin at 7pm on August 6 and entry will be free to all 11 to 14 years olds that come along.

They will then have to pay £1 for each further session.

Activities will include use of playing fields, netball court, a pool table, Nintendo Wii and a tuck shop on site.

The club will be open every Wednesday from 7pm until 9pm.

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