Community centre forced to close by power problems

A community centre in Surrey has been forced to close after it was left without power or a fire alarm system.

All events at the Maybury Centre, in Board School Road, Woking, have been suspended by the borough council until the problem is resolved, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The blackout began at the centre on 24 July, the council said, when the electricity provider for the building terminated the supply.

The Maybury Centre Trust, a registered charity and manager of the building, was not immediately available for comment.

The centre provides facilities for education, health, welfare, business and recreation in the surrounding area.

The trust hires it under an agreement with Woking Borough Council, taking over operations in June as part of the council's asset transfer policy to cut costs.

This comes after the council effectively declared itself bankrupt in 2023 with £2bn of debt.

The council said that, in the interest of public safety, the centre will remain closed until the situation is resolved and that any upcoming bookings will not be honoured.

Steve Greentree, the council's portfolio holder for community, said: "We recognise the closure will cause disruption for many local groups who use the centre regularly, but the safety of building users and the wider public must always come first."

The council said that those impacted can contact them to see what options may be available.

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