Glasshouse by rectory may be pulled down
A DERELICT glasshouse attached to St Andrew’s rectory could be demolished, if planning permission is granted.
The planning application has been made by St Andrew’s constables, who own the rectory, and senior constable Martin Thwaite said that the demolition would allow for maintenance to the upper floor of the main rectory building to be carried out.
‘It will allow us access to a part of the main building which would not be possible if the glasshouse remained where it is.’
He added that the work would be completely funded by the parish.
‘We will address whether or not something will be built in place of the glasshouse once the initial work on the rectory has been completed.’
The glasshouse in question has been built against the left-hand gable wall to the rectory building and, according to the planning application’s condition report, is at the point where it is visibly collapsing.
The report states that a significant number of panes of glass have come loose and are broken or missing, while the head of the door frame which is providing structural support to the glazing at the head of the front gable has been weakened by damage caused by wet rot.
According to the report, the structure is now unsafe and at risk of imminent collapse. The entrance door has had to be sealed shut, while the glazed elements to the building, particularly the roof, are structurally unsound due to damage caused by timber decay. The timber elements to the structure require replacement, and the existing timber glazed structure is incapable of repair and will need to be demolished.
