A COMMUNITY centre damaged in a lightning strike is set to fully reopen this week.

Following six weeks of repair work, Bearwood Community Centre is now “fully operational” – just in time for its annual general meeting on Thursday, April 21.

Part of the centre’s roof and gable wall were damaged when a freak storm struck at the beginning of March.

Around 20 people were inside the building at the time, although no one was injured.

However, several cars parked outside had their windscreens smashed and bonnets dented by debris falling from the roof.

While repairs have been taking place, half the centre’s car park, frequently used by locals, has been closed.

Ward Cllr and vice chairman of the community association, David Brown, said the cost of external repairs, plus those to fix damage to the internal electric, heating, door access and fire alarms systems, were in excess of £20,000.

“All the external works are now complete, and we have just a few ongoing internal faults to sort out,” he said.

“We will be fully operational this week. The new gable wall and roof are repaired, the scaffolding has come down, the fencing gone, and the car park has re-opened.

“It’s been quite a lot of inconvenience for the groups which use the centre. Around 600 to 800 people a week use it, so the centre re-opening fully is a relief to a lot of good groups.

“With the car park partly closed, it has caused quite a lot of parking issues around the shops - that’s been the most inconvenient bit.

“We’ve had a few lessons to learn in how we respond to a crisis. Reinstatement works have improved on what was there before, but if a lightning strike happens again, it happens again,” he added.

Around 1,280 bricks were needed to rebuild the gable wall and 300 tiles to repair the roof.

Community centre manager Lynn Rowe said it had been “a stressful few weeks”.

“Our regular groups have been very patient with us, but it will be nice to get back to normal.

“We’ve also finished in time for the elections in May.”

She continued: “At least 20 groups use the centre a week, and we also have a lot of children’s parties too. I don’t like disappointing children and, thankfully, we were able to relocate all the parties while the repairs were going on.

“It was a very freak accident – let’s hope it’s true that lightning never strikes the same place twice.”