Diss Youth and Community Centre to have public consultation before plans agreed, say town council

People will be given the chance to have their say on the fate of Diss’ main community centre, with its future very much up in the air.

The top floor of Diss Youth and Community Centre has been closed since December after a survey discovered the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the roof structure of the building.

Since then, Diss Town Council, which owns and manages the building, has been considering options for the Shelfanger Road site, including shelling out £400,000 on repairs or even demolishing the venue.

Now the town authority has said it would like the public to have a say on the site’s future.

Town clerk Sarah Villafuerte-Richards said: “We are working on a number of options on how best to proceed.

“The financial implications are significant and it is important to make the right community decision.

“A public consultation will take place before a final decision is made.”

Though no further details of the consultation have been given, it is likely to focus on three options to replace the roof with a new structure, demolish the building and construct a more fit-for-purpose facility on the land or sell the entire site and build a facility elsewhere in Diss.

Meanwhile a fundraiser to help Park Radio, which has been asked to vacate the bottom floor of the building, has now surpassed £4,000.

The station, which broadcasts across the Waveney Valley, including in Diss, Eye and Harleston, wants to raise £5,000 to help it relocate.

Diss Community Fridge Project, which also uses the site, have also given an update on its situation.

A spokesman said: “We are still unsure what the future holds for us at the youth centre. For now, we are carrying on as usual and are still open every Thursday, from 6pm to 7pm.”