HAMPSHIRE County Council has said that structural surveys have been completed on all buildings it owns to identify any with dangerous concrete that is prone to collapse.

The news comes as more than 100 schools and colleges in England have been told they need to shut classrooms or put safety measures in place because they contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) which could suddenly collapse.

The move comes as schools in England are set to start the new academic year and could see thousands of pupils taking lessons remotely.

Hampshire County Council has said Cranbourne College in Basingstoke is the education establishment it owns to contain the material and no schools are being told to shut.

READ MORE: Only one Hampshire school has dangerous concrete prone to collapse

Since then on Thursday, September 7, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) confirmed that Westside Community Centre in Basingstoke has closed after RAAC was found in the community library part of the building.

A county council spokesperson said: “In relation to public buildings maintained by Hampshire County Council, we can confirm two known cases of RAAC.

“Cranbourne College in Basingstoke is the only school site under our management where RAAC has been identified. Temporary work has already been undertaken to one section of the building to make sure it is safe, and another area has been taken out of use since the beginning of the year. The school has reopened for the new academic year as normal. 

"Following a detailed structural survey carried out on Wednesday 6 September, RAAC has been confirmed within an area of South Ham Community Library in Basingstoke, in an area of the building that is owned by Hampshire County Council. This area is used by a community group, and we have notified them of the outcome of this survey. As a precautionary measure we have instructed that the impacted areas are closed immediately and remain closed until appropriate mitigation measures have been implemented. Other areas of the building are owned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and we have notified them of the outcome of our investigation.

“The county council is responsible for a large estate, and we have a comprehensive inspection programme in place for all our buildings, including structural surveys by qualified engineers. Through these, RAAC has not been identified elsewhere, however, we continue to monitor the position with RAAC across our estate and would investigate, and take appropriate action, should issues be identified.”

READ ALSO: Westside Community Centre closes after dangerous concrete found

Several county councillors have been contacted regarding the issues.

Cllr Stephen Ried said: "The question that concerns me is this: Westside Community Centre is one of many that were built about the time of Basingstoke's rapid expansion during the period of London Overspill. So, how many more are there?

"I can think of multiple community buildings put up at that time. As it happens, Westside is a 'semi-detached' structure and Hampshire has found RAAC in its half. Has Basingstoke and Deane tested its side of the building? And is BDBC inspecting the other community buildings put up around the same time?

"In my opinion, Hampshire is right to take the cautious approach in protecting the public from a potential danger. But we need to know more about Basingstoke's assets built around that time. And we also need to know what help will be given to important community organisations that are displaced through closures - nurseries, community pantries, community associations and so on."

BDBC has been contacted for a comment regarding the buildings it owns.