If you don't want a phone mast, pay for restoration
YOU reported (July 23) that a St Ives football club turned down an approach from a mobile phone company to erect a mast on one of its floodlights. A while ago, a mobile phone company also asked All Saints Church in Hartford if it could install a mast wit
YOU reported (July 23) that a St Ives football club turned down an approach from a mobile phone company to erect a mast on one of its floodlights.
A while ago, a mobile phone company also asked All Saints' Church in Hartford if it could install a mast within its tower in exchange for a substantial annual fee.
The parochial church council consulted widely with people living in the area. Some of those consulted voiced concerns regarding health issues, although the PCC had confidence in the scientific evidence that there was no health threat. Recently, another request has been made to use the tower and the financial offer has been increased.
The annual financial assistance would be extremely welcome towards meeting the cost of running the church, which is over £40,000 this year. However the PCC has decided to forgo this financial benefit rather than cause anxiety to anyone living nearby.
The members of All Saints' Church, Hartford, have difficulty in raising the annual running costs, as many are retired or not old enough to work. Many people think that churches are assisted by the Government but that is not true. Churches even have to pay VAT on the majority of their bills.
A Gift Day on Saturday September 6 is therefore being held at the church to request donations towards the cost of running All Saints', Hartford. The church has had many recent expenses, such as £400 for a leaking roof and £1,000 for boiler repairs. The church also needs to raise £940 for a new 20ft ladder in the tower (a health and safety requirement) and £2,183 for improving the lighting in the chancel.
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Those people who asked the church to reject the mobile phone company's attractive financial offer may like to assist the church, in return, in raising needed funds on our Gift Day.
HELEN DOWZALL
Churchwarden
All Saints' Church
Hartford
