Molesey Adult Learning Centre – Building Works

Molesey (Henrietta Parker) Adult Learning Centre, and the adjoining Community and Youth Hub, will be having some major building works taking place from Monday 12 May that is expected to last approximately 22 weeks.

The scope of the project focuses on energy efficiency upgrades, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and encouraging sustainable practices. These improvements will enhance the building’s performance through the installation of technologies such as LED lighting, upgraded insulation, and smart heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, including air source heat pumps. At the conclusion of the project, it is expected for the car park to also receive a much needed resurface.

This initiative forms part of Surrey County Council’s wider commitment to achieving net zero carbon by 2050, part of their Climate Change Strategy.

Below we have put together some frequently asked questions regarding the potential impacts that may be caused to your learning and use of the centre during this period.

• Why in the middle of term?
• Who is doing the work?
• Will I still be able to park on site?
• I have an upcoming exam at the centre, will it be quiet?
• Will centre opening hours be maintained throughout the project?
• Will the centre be open for enquiries and to enrol in person outside of term time?
• Will the café remain open throughout the project?
• When will work be taking place?
• I have an upcoming Saturday course at the centre, will this be impacted?
• What will the disruption be for evening courses?
• What will the disruption be for daytime courses?
• Will the centre be back to normal in September, in time for the autumn term?

Why in the middle of term?

With the project spanning the amount of time that it does, there is no ideal time for it to be carried out. Utilising the longer break that summer gives us between terms, and the warmer weather, gives greater scope for more of the work to be carried out outside of term time and won’t impact use of the heating in the building as this is switched off during the summer months.

Who is doing the work?

BTU Installation and Maintenance Ltd (BTU) were appointed as the Principal Contractor for the improvements works, acting on behalf of Macro (hard and soft facilities management) and Surrey County Council.

Throughout the duration of the project, BTU are committed to minimising disruption as best they can.

Will I still be able to park on site?

Yes, the car park will still be in use for service users, however at a slightly reduce capacity.

Part of the car park (approximately 10 spaces) will be blocked off to house a compound for BTU to store essential day-to-day equipment, an office, rest area and temporary toilet, and contractors will be asked not to park on site during term time (Monday to Thursday) and to instead use the surrounding roads. Any deliveries will also be planned, where practicable, to take place early morning or late afternoon, when the centre and car park are at their quietest.

The sheltered bicycle locking facility (to the left as you enter the car park) will remain accessible.

Whilst the car park can become busy on some days of the week, we don’t envision this to have a major impact. If however the car park does become full, free street parking is available on the roads surrounding the centre.

I have an upcoming exam at the centre, will it be quiet?

We have provided BTU with the planned exam dates and times that are running at the centre and have asked that there is no noise, and that other work takes place during these periods instead.

Will centre opening hours be maintained throughout the project?

The centre will remain operational and open as advertised Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Friday from 9am to 4pm, and Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:15pm to 9:45pm for the remainder of the summer term.

The exception to this will be on Friday 16 May and Friday 18 July where the centre will close at 1pm.

Will the centre be open for enquiries and to enrol in person outside of term time?

No, the centre will be closed to the public outside of our planned term dates to allow better progress to be made with the project.

The centre reception will remain open and staffed term time opening hours.

Term dates can be found on the term dates webpage.

Will the café remain open throughout the project?

Yes, the café will remain open and operational during term time opening hours, Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 2:30pm, throughout the project.

As is the case currently, during evenings and Saturday openings, there is a hot drink vending machine available accepting contactless card payments only.

When will work be taking place?

Work will take place Monday to Friday, between 7am and 5pm. It is not planned that work will need to take place of an evening.

It is not planned, at current, that work will need to take place on a Saturday, however there may be occasions where this may take place to lessen disruption to the operational use of the centre on a weekday, for example where a crane may be needed.

I have an upcoming Saturday course at the centre, will this be impacted?

We don’t envision planned workshops on Saturday 14 June to be impacted, at this stage. If this were to change, we will contact active enrolled learners at the earliest opportunity.

What will the disruption be for evening courses?

As the work will take place during the daytime, there will be no disruption to evening courses.

There may however need to be a change of room, where practical, for a session, or a session that we may have to cancel and refund if a room is planned to be out of action. We are currently working with BTU and putting plans in place to minimise disruption and impact, to plot what rooms will need to be out of action and when.

What will the disruption be for daytime courses?

We hope that this will be minimal, however as with all building work there may be minor disruptions, but we will do our best to keep this to a minimum.

There will possibly need to be a change of room, where practical, for a session, or a session that we may have to cancel and refund if a room is planned to be out of action.

We are currently working with BTU and putting plans in place to minimise disruption and impact, to plot what rooms will need to be out of action and when.

Will the centre be back to normal in September, in time for the autumn term?

Not initially. Work is due to conclude in early October and will likely finish with the resurfacing of the car park, once the compound is removed.

At this stage, our focus is on the short-term impact it will have until the end of the summer term in July, so that we can keep this to a minimum for our service users.

Once we have the full picture and plans in place, we will move our focus onto the work taking place in September and October, at the end of the project, so that we can be proactive and review any impacts that may present themselves there.

This page will be updated with additional information, frequently asked questions and impacts, as and when we have the information available.

If you have any questions regarding anything we haven’t covered on this page, please email us and we will endeavour to provide you with further answers and clarification.