Scaffolding is taken down temporarily
SCAFFOLDING is coming down from Ebenezer Church as conversion work is finally gearing up to begin.
The listed church in Brock Road has been closed for more than 20 years and was sold by the Methodist Church in 2012 for £735,000.
Current owner Simon Holland explained that the metal poles and wooden boards were erected in 2016 to enable assessment and reporting on the condition of the building.
They were being removed for safety reasons because they have moved and settled.
He said it had been deemed easier to remove and re-erect the scaffolding rather than seeking to maintain it in order that it should receive a clean bill of health in anticipation of work beginning later this year.
Mr Holland plans to restore the church with 11 flats in the main structure and hopes to build an extension with a further six flats.
In addition, he has worked with the owners of the adjacent Bougourd Ford property to submit an application to establish a one-way access road, with entry from the Grange and exiting into Brock Road.
He described the planning decision as long overdue but said he was confident the application was in line with the development framework for the area and he was looking forward to being able to start work on the project.
