Welsh market forced to close immediately over RAAC concrete fears - live updates

Bridgend Indoor Market has shut with immediate effect over a "potential issue" over RAAC concrete in its roof. Bridgend council said the closure has been deemed necessary in the "interests of public safety" after a specialist inspection carried out this morning.

The closure centres around a potential issue involving the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within the structure’s roof. Further in-depth assessments and surveys will now be carried out, and next steps will be be agreed, the council said.

Traders have been informed, and the council said it will keep them "fully up to date on the situation as it develops". However, it's understood traders were given a short time to prepare for the closure on Wednesday afternoon.

The market is not the only building to be forced to close over potential RAAC concrete concerns in Wales. Cardiff Council announced earlier this month that St David's Hall in the city centre is to close temporarily for at least four weeks so checks can be done on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) present in the building.

The vulnerabilities of RAAC, which has a lifespan of about 30 years, have been known since the 1990s. It was a material used in construction during the 1960s and 1990s, however, it wasn't until 2020 that local authorities in Wales were made aware of the potential issue with it, according to the Welsh Government.

The UK Government announced new guidance on RAAC in educational settings in August 2023. Since then, a number of schools across the countryhave had to close due to concerns over its safety. Two schools in Wales have already been closed due to RAAC concerns.

Bridgend council said the indoor market is the only premises in the local authority where a