STROUD library is closed until further notice following the discovery of potentially unsafe RAAC.

A closure notice could be seen on the door of the building, which was built in 1968, on Friday, although no reason was given. On Monday morning, Gloucestershire County Council issued a statement saying the site had been closed as a 'precautionary measure' following the discovery of lightweight Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the building.

Construction workers could be seen operating inside the site.

In the statement, GCC said: "Engineers have confirmed there is no imminent risk to public safety.

"The closure is a purely precautionary measure which will allow the county council to carry out further checks on the building.

"Since August 2023, Gloucestershire County Council has reviewed records relating to all 442 of its buildings for evidence of RAAC.

"Where this was inconclusive, 119 visual inspections were carried out and where these were inconclusive a further 86 intrusive surveys were conducted.

"Priority was given to school buildings and the wider county council estate followed.

"All visual inspections and intrusive surveys have now been completed.

"Having completed these reviews, we are confident that Stroud library is the only county council building where RAAC is present."

Stonehouse, Nailsworth and Dursley are the nearest libraries.

Short term alternative provision is being looked at and a pop-up library is planned to open as quickly as possible at the Five Valleys Shopping Centre with the aim of Monday, February 12.

Stroud library is due to permanently relocate to the shopping centre in the spring.

The RAAC crisis hit the headlines last summer when it was revealed that hundreds of buildings across the country could be unsafe as the material can collapse over time.

In September, days before the new term, a single-storey building at the rear of the design technology block at Marling School was closed as a precaution after the material was found.

RAAC, which was used from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, is normally found in roofs, floors, cladding and walls.

It is cheaper than traditional dense concrete, and is quicker and easier to install.

According to a government report from the end of last year, 231 schools and colleges had been found with RAAC.

For information about opening times of the pop-up library and further updates go to tinyurl.com/2ju9nsv7