Planning permission sought to replace lead stolen from church roof with stainless steel
All Saints Church, in Winwick. - Credit: Archant
Church officials in Winwick have applied for planning permission to replace large areas of lead stolen from the roof with stainless steel.
Thieves stripped thousands of pounds worth of lead from the south aisle and both sides of the lady chapel at the Grade II*-listed All Saints Church, in Winwick, in November last year.
The attack came just days after work to repair the damage caused by another theft had started and the incident, the third theft since 2011, prompted an angry reaction from church officials.
This week, parishioners applied to Huntingdonshire District Council for planning permission to install terne-coated stainless steel panels in place of the lead – which is expensive and more likely to be a target for thieves again.
Church officials told planners: “The oldest part of the church dates from the 11th century and is an asset of community value, which should be allowed to continue to function rather than deteriorate and cease to benefit the village.”
You may also want to watch:
The steel panels would be coated in Smart Water, which means they could be traced and recovered should they be stolen in the future.
In consultation with the council, Historic England said: “We acknowledge that some churches are more vulnerable than others and could face particular problems with repeated theft.
Most Read
- 1 Numerous Huntingdon High Street shops shut due to flooding
- 2 Man who burgled his own father’s home is sentenced
- 3 Man to appear in court after smashing police car window with sledgehammer
- 4 Seven men jailed for stealing bikes worth £70k
- 5 Take a sneaky peak inside the new Di Rita's at No2 restaurant in St Ives
- 6 Shocks all round as police pull over 'white van man'
- 7 Drink driver arrested in Brampton for being four times over the legal limit
- 8 Man in court over special constable assault and theft of alcohol
- 9 Father-of-five murdered due to 'drug deal dispute gone wrong'
- 10 Lets get Cambridgeshire back on the buses says mayor
“This is certainly the case at All Saints Church which, although it is prominently located adjacent a main road, has suffered three significant lead thefts.
“In light of these factors, we would not oppose the change of materials in principle.”
