PRESSURE is growing to save a landmark Wirral church which is threatened with closure.
St Peter and Paul’s Church, in New Brighton, is one of the most visible of the borough’s places of worship, but parishioners are dismayed at the proposals to close it in 2009.
On Monday, a notice of motion will be put before a full meeting of Wirral Council seeking support from the authority to protect the historic landmark.
Cllr Tony Pritchard will call on the borough’s chief executive Steve Maddox to write to the Diocese of Shrewsbury, which covers Wirral.
He wants Mr Maddox to ask for the opinions of the borough’s residents to be taken into account, and the Trustees of the diocese not to consider “any option that would result in St Peter and Paul’s Church being demolished or left to deteriorate into a dilapidated state”.
Cllr Pritchard said: “We are calling for all 66 councillors to recognise the feelings of the 3,000-plus Wirral residents who signed the petition so far to save our famous Wirral landmark building. We can’t allow our beau-tiful church to be mothballed. The clock is ticking and we must convince the Trustees of the Diocese of Shrewsbury to listen to resi-dents and reconsider their decision.”
Meanwhile, locals have organ-ised for repair works to be carried out to the fabric of the building to ensure its longevity.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury announced closure plans earlier this year and local people fear it could be left to fall into dis-repair and then demolished.
Father John Joyce, a Diocese spokesman, said he was unable to add to the statement about the church’s planned closure, but said discussions will continue with the congregation.
Campaigners, including many who attend the church, fear the diocese has plans to capitalise on the potential value of the land the church is on, overlook-ing Liverpool Bay.
SOUL (Save Our Unique Landmark), the group formed to preserve the building, plan to have an exhibition tent at the Wirral Show this weekend so people can call in and discuss the church’s future.
June Hargreaves, secretary of SOUL, said parishioners had paid for repairs to guttering and other maintenance works.
Mrs Hargreaves added: “I do not know how much the Diocese know about this – I think they know nothing about it.
“We have also received many pledges of financial support for the church’s upkeep and repair if we’re able to save it, and we hope to get many more.
“It breaks our hearts to think they will do something else with the church – all the statues were paid for and donated by parishioners.”
