Windmill Entertainment Centre update - 6 October 2023
We have an update on the Windmill Entertainment Centre for you.
Firstly, thank you for your patience on this. We know how important this is for our community and have felt the frustration of this recovery phase as members of the community, as well as the lead authority. This process is lengthy and complex with many partners involved, and we thank you for bearing with us.
Following the removal of asbestos, we have received a report back from the Fire Risk Assessor who has advised that the building is not in any way ready to receive visitors at present. This report has been passed to loss adjusters and insurers. There is a programme of work to be completed to prepare the building for a full Fire Risk Assessment.
As always, the safety and health of the staff, public and performers is the priority, and we must be confident that everything has been done to ensure that priority is met.
There is of course an impact to all hirers and societies and Freedom Leisure, as leaseholders, have advised us that they have been communicating with those and relaying up to date information.
A meeting with those hirers and societies will take place week commencing 23rd October, having asked societies and hirers for their preferred date. The purpose of this meeting will be to update all users in respect of the longer term repairs to the building and for a discussion about progress, timelines, and the collaborative efforts required to revitalize the Windmill Entertainment Centre as a vibrant hub for our community once the necessary safety concerns have been addressed.
There has been reports of mould in the building. A week after the initial incident, all wet carpets were removed from the building. There has been a check of the current state of the carpets and can confirm that we continue to monitor any mould and the moisture in the building and will take any necessary action.
We can confirm that following the report from the Fire Risk Assessor and the scope of work that needs to be done to make the building safe, means that a partial reopening will not be possible. The following information comes from that report and shares some of the challenges ahead. In the meantime, it is safe to say that we will not see the centre opening before the new year when we will be in a better position to provide an update on timeframes.
Building condition
Due to the collapsing of the gable end of the Harvester building on to the roof of the main entrance this has rendered the whole front entrance area as unsafe. The loss of this area as an exit impacts the means of escape and the capacity.
Electrical
Currently there are a number of electrical panels that have been isolated as they are in a potentially unsafe condition, and this needs rectifying before any re occupancy takes place.
Fire Alarm System
The fire alarm system is currently not operational with parts of it damaged along with the damage to the front entrance area.
External Means of escape
As the front of the building will not be available for access and egress the rear is the only other practical way to enter the building. There is currently no emergency lighting or secure escape route from the rear areas that could cope with the numbers having to use this area to exit the building.
Summary
The building is not near ready for any form of re opening. In its current state the building is a long way off being ready to have a fire risk assessment completed to confirm it is ready to allow the public back in.
This is not the update that we had hoped to share at this point, but we will be working with all partners to do the work required as soon as possible to get this valuable community venue open and alive again and will issue updates when we have information to share.
The Harvester site demolition is imminent and may attract attention from the public. Necessary safety procedures will be in place but we are asking for sense to prevail when near that site so the contractors can complete their work.