Labour Neglect Charles Barry Masterpiece

1.07.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 2nd Feb 2006

Manchester City Council have been condemned for allowing a Council-owned Grade II* listed building to deteriorate so badly that it may have to be demolished.

The Unitarian Chapel, subsequently a Welsh Baptist Chapel, was designed in 1837-9 by Sir Charles Barry, the celebrated architect of the Houses of Parliament. It is now in such a state that almost all the roof, roof supports and ceiling have had to be removed for safety reasons; the floor is unsafe; the walls are in a poor condition and the West front is supported by scaffolding to prevent a possible collapse.

Councillor Graham Shaw, who speaks on Planning issues for Manchester's 38 Liberal Democrat Councillors, moved a motion asking the Council to express its regret that the Church had been allowed to get in such a state while in the ownership of the Council; and asking for a full report to the powerful Executive Committee on how this happened & with options to save the building from demolition. But the Labour Council amended the motion to refuse both requests.

Councillor Shaw said today:

"I find it almost impossible to believe that the Labour Council explicitly refused to express its regret over this matter. What would they say if a private owner had neglected a building of such importance in the same way?"

He added:

"The idea that this is a recent and unforeseen problem is ridiculous. In 1999 the author of an architectural survey of Manchester wrote

"The Brook Street Chapel is falling rapidly into a state of extreme decay, in spite of its Grade II* listing. Would any other city allow a work of Barry's to perish so?"

Councillor Shaw concluded:

"This do-nothing Labour Council is allowing this remarkable building to perish. The people of Manchester deserve an explanation."

End