Fence is answer to church prayers

5:02pm Thursday 20th September 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A CHURCH plagued by thieves and vandals has been given permission to build an eight-feet-high fence.

Approval has also been granted for a new car park within the grounds of St Joseph's RC Church, Belgarth Road, Acc-rington, after vehicles were vandalised while owners attended services.

Councillors who approved the planning applications said they were a "sad sign of our times".

The meeting was told the mesh fence was needed because of a catalogue of damage, theft and even attacks on clergy.

The fence will top and back the stone perimeter wall. Down lighters will also be placed around the building to illuminate the property and increase safety and security.

Church spokesperson Eddie Donnelly said: "A church should be welcoming. A church should be open to the public all day, but you can't do that anymore because of the people that raid it.

"The lead has been taken off the church buildings twice, costing around £3,000 to replace. Vandals climb the roof and damage slates. People have had their cars scratched and windscreen wipers snapped off.The priest was once pushed about by a gang sat on the church steps. We have to provide a safe place for our congregation."

Speaking at the planning meeting, chair Coun John Griffiths said: "It is a sad sign of our times that we need to put security around a church."

Coun Lynne Wilson added: "It is an awful shame we are reduced to having to fence anything we want to protect."

The car park will also alleviate traffic problems in the area, the meeting was told. Mr Donnelly added: "There would be no point providing somewhere to park if we couldn't make it secure."