THE director of operations at a city centre church has downplayed any concerns after a car crashed into the side of the building.
Will Bradshaw, from Hope Church in Middle Brook Street, told the Chronicle that the damage to the building on Friarsgate “looks worse than it is”.
He said: “The building has been deemed safe to use. It looks worse than it is because that part of the building has a steel frame.
READ MORE: Car crashes into Winchester city centre church
“I was here (when the crash happened), but I did not see it happen, and it looked worse than it was. It is just one of those things, fortunately no one was injured.”
When asked if he was worried that further crashes could occur, Mr Bradshaw said: “We think it was a one-off. There was a similar incident at the gym down the road, and they added steel bollards after it happened and nothing similar has happened since. I’m not worried of any other incidents like this.”
As previously reported, the crash occurred at around 3pm yesterday, Wednesday, October 9.
The church was holding a conference and many people were evacuated but no-one is thought to have been hurt in the incident.
It could have been much more serious as the red Toyota mounted the pavement before striking railings and then the building close to an office.
The cause of the crash was unclear although it happened when the vehicle struck the church opposite the exit to the Brooks Centre underground car park.
The police, fire service and ambulance were all called and their vehicles partially blocked Friarsgate, part of the one-way system, causing tailbacks to Eastgate Street and Union Street and onto North Walls and Bridge Street.
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The crash happened very close to the construction of the new GP surgery on the corner of Friarsgate and Upper Brook Street.
One of the builders, who declined to give his name, said: “We were down the side when it happened, so we didn't see anything. It was just an old dear who left the car park too quickly”.
Boards have been put up at the site of the crash, with broken glass still around the building.
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