Preston’s Guild Hall and Charter Theatre are to see further inspections after concerns ‘crumbly concrete’ is within the roof of the buildings.

The venues, which are currently closed to the public, are to see specialist structural engineers visit the site for further detailed inspections.

Preston City Council said there is believed to be the presence of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) in the roof panels of the venue complex.

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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.”

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The Guild Hall is due to host the Preston Weekender in mid-November, after it was moved into the venue rather than take place on the Flag Market in August.

A spokesperson for the Preston Weekender said no decision had yet been taken about the future of the event due to take place on 18 and 19 of November.

In a statement they said: “We are awaiting further information from Preston City Council and their structural investigations consultants before taking a decision on the future of the event.

“We appreciate people’s patience, and will update ticker holders as soon as possible.

“Obviously, this is news nobody wanted, but the safety and security of patrons is paramount.”

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