Ultimatum served on New Brighton’s Catholic church - 7th Jul 2009 2:54pm
Ultimatum served on Catholic church over state of New Brighton’s “Dome of Home”
THE Catholic church has been issued with an ultimatum to repair a crumbling church building in Wirral – or face legal action.
Diocese of Shrewsbury authorities closed Ss Peter and Paul’s church, known as “the Dome of Home”, almost a year ago, despite protests by parishioners.
The diocese had cited the high costs of maintaining the New Brighton building and moved masses to the Anglican All Saints church instead.
Members of Ss Peter and Paul’s congregation have fought a long battle to initially save the church and then reopen it.
Even before its closure, residents and councillors had become increasingly concerned about the church’s state of repair and their fears have grown since it shut in August last year.
Wirral council has now written to the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Rev Brian Noble, insisting that repairs are carried out.
The letter from technical services director David Green gave the church 28 days to respond.
The letter said the diocese must respond, confirming its “firm proposals to carry out the necessary urgent repairs”.
The letter said if there was no response, the council will “have no alternative option than to begin the process of issuing an urgent works notice”, which will require the diocese to carry out specified repair works.
Mr Green added: “If these works are not carried out, then the council will consider carrying them out in default, and recover all associated costs from the diocese.”
Wallasey councillor Paul Hayes said: “The Diocese of Shrewsbury has neglected this church for far too long, and I am glad the council has decided it cannot simply sit back and allow such an integral part of the Wirral skyline to fall into further disrepair.”
New Brighton councillor Tony Pritchard said the building was being penetrated by damp.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Shrewsbury said: “The defects referred to are known to us.”
He said officials plan to inspect the church adding: “We have been in touch with English Heritage and we are undertaking a strategic review of the diocese, which will include Ss Peter and Paul’s.”
THE GLOBE
THE Catholic church has been issued with an ultimatum to repair a crumbling church building in Wirral – or face legal action.
Diocese of Shrewsbury authorities closed Ss Peter and Paul’s church, known as “the Dome of Home”, almost a year ago, despite protests by parishioners.
The diocese had cited the high costs of maintaining the New Brighton building and moved masses to the Anglican All Saints church instead.
Members of Ss Peter and Paul’s congregation have fought a long battle to initially save the church and then reopen it.
Even before its closure, residents and councillors had become increasingly concerned about the church’s state of repair and their fears have grown since it shut in August last year.
Wirral council has now written to the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Rev Brian Noble, insisting that repairs are carried out.
The letter from technical services director David Green gave the church 28 days to respond.
The letter said the diocese must respond, confirming its “firm proposals to carry out the necessary urgent repairs”.
The letter said if there was no response, the council will “have no alternative option than to begin the process of issuing an urgent works notice”, which will require the diocese to carry out specified repair works.
Mr Green added: “If these works are not carried out, then the council will consider carrying them out in default, and recover all associated costs from the diocese.”
Wallasey councillor Paul Hayes said: “The Diocese of Shrewsbury has neglected this church for far too long, and I am glad the council has decided it cannot simply sit back and allow such an integral part of the Wirral skyline to fall into further disrepair.”
New Brighton councillor Tony Pritchard said the building was being penetrated by damp.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Shrewsbury said: “The defects referred to are known to us.”
He said officials plan to inspect the church adding: “We have been in touch with English Heritage and we are undertaking a strategic review of the diocese, which will include Ss Peter and Paul’s.”
THE GLOBE
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