Local traders appeal for the reopening of parts of Whitchurch Civic Centre to boost footfall

A market trader wants the front of Whitchurch Civic Centre and the public toilets open to help connect the hall to the high street.

Since the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in September 2023, only the market/sports hall has remained open at the centre.

In February 2025, Shropshire Council, then led by the Conservatives, pledged up to £4 million to repair or rebuild it.

However, the current Liberal Democrat administration states no funding was secured.

Due to its financial emergency, the council cannot borrow more and voted on September 9 to dispose of the building.

It is now in talks with Creative Whitchurch about a Community Asset Transfer. Joanna White, who sells cards and handmade gifts at the market on a Friday, says footfall has gone down 75 per cent since the closure at the front of the building, and some weeks doesn't make enough money to cover her fees.

"We have been asking the council to look into re opening the front of the civic centre and the public toilets, and we have sent a letter to [North Shropshire MP] Helen Morgan with lots of signatures on," she said.

"We need to connect Whitchurch to the market hall, and the market hall to the high street. We have been told this can't be done because of the RAAC, but we all know hospitals and schools have not closed completely but made safe with shuttering and making people walk through corridors.

"We are just asking for help with our business, we cannot keep coming every Friday and not earning any money. Whitchurch is known as a historical market town, we need people to be able to find us and support us.

"We just want someone with sense to see, we could connect Whitchurch again and more importantly give back the public toilets to the town."

Mrs Morgan added: “Many years of Conservative underinvestment, coupled with their empty promise to find the funds to save the centre, are unforgiveable. “Now, with no Government funding to repair the dangerous concrete, like there is for schools and NHS buildings, the council had to make a really hard decision, and I’m pleased there may be a future for the centre.

“The Civic Centre is critical to the heart of Whitchurch – to market traders, residents, local groups, and the wider community, but to reopen it, the funds will need to be found from somewhere. I’ll be working together with the council and the community to find a way forward.”

Steve Law, head of property and development at Shropshire Council, said the authority is committed to making sure the building is safe.

"We will be doing essential maintenance to stop further deterioration, that will continue as far as the process goes," he said.

"We've had various surveys and structure assessments undertaken. It is absolutely correct that a lot of the elements are around the structure, so we have a good understanding of that.

"Unfortunately, due to the building of this nature, to correct the RAC, involves severe interventions to the building.

"We certainly don't want to shut elements of this building down and really do want to minimise the impact. We've gone on the best advice from structural engineers, and they've said it's not safe."