Update : BCB Premises 30th April 2021

As we start to ease out of lockdown, we’re looking again at the feasibility of re-opening 11 Rawson Road. Many of you have been asking about getting back into the building so we want to give you an update on what we’ve been doing.

Over the last few weeks we’ve set up a Premises Task Group. This is a joint group of Management Committee, staff, and volunteers. As well as progressing our longer term into new premises in 2023, it’s also looking at getting back into Rawson Road. There are three phases to this process:
1. Exploring what needs to be done to make the building Covid secure and ready for use, and then implementing those actions;
2. Limited opening and access, to see how it works in practice;
3. Full opening of the building within the new limits of a yet unknown Covid future.

So we are currently in phase 1. We’re organising a deep clean of the building, servicing the gas boiler etc. Also we’ve had someone to look at our ventilation system (thanks BCB volunteer Pete Dutton!). The good news is that it’s a clean air ventilation system which brings fresh air into the building – ventilation is a big factor in reopening buildings in Covid times and as we have no opening windows at BCB this is really important. So we’ll get that serviced and ready for use.

We’re also drawing up the Covid risk assessments and what we’ll be asking everyone to do if they’re planning to come into the building. This is of course evolving as the knowledge changes, testing becomes readily available and vaccination roll out continues. So we’re moving forward very cautiously. Rest assured that the health and well-being of all the BCB community – staff, volunteers and guests – is our greatest concern. We’ll be sharing with you any proposals that we come up with for re-opening the building and listening to what you have to say.

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