Sports hall closed due to asbestos

A SPORTS hall in Henley has been closed after asbestos was found in a wall.

The facility at Henley Leisure Centre, off Gillotts Lane, will re-open in January once the asbestos has been removed.

The hall hosts multiple activities each week, including badminton, basketball and pickleball.

The Henley Standard understands that a survey was conducted during the week beginning Monday, November 24 and GLL, which runs the facility,  was notified about the asbestos on Wednesday last week.

The neighbouring Gillotts School uses the hall during the school day for PE lessons, as well as its three, whole school, end of term assemblies each academic year.

Headteacher Catharine Darnton said: “Next week’s assembly will have to go virtual. We are contingency planning to make best use of our indoor spaces for PE but there’s no doubt that the closure will impact our sports provision, especially as it’s occurred during winter, when wet weather most often forces us inside.”

Wendy Franklin, the treasurer for Shuttle and Cocks Club, meets with the club every Wednesday at the hall for a game of badminton with about 11 other players.

Ms Franklin has been told that the hall is scheduled to re-open to the public in early January but the courts will not be open again until mid-January.

She said: “It’s a shame it’s shut, but I look forward to being back on the court as soon as possible. Safety comes first.”

Kevin Williams, GLL partnership manager, said the asbestos presented “no risk” to centre users but decided to remove it as a precaution.

He added: “We will be crediting block bookings and are exploring the temporary relocation of activities to nearby, if required.”