answer text |
<p>With regards to open churches the number of churches in the Blackburn Diocese which
have suffered from metal theft can be found on the chart below. The chart shows the
volume of claims have dropped dramatically since 2011 when the Scrap Metal Dealers
Act was enforced there are still a small number of persistent gangs operating across
the country who continue to damage and vandalise these local community assets. The
total number of thefts does not tell the whole story as the cost to the individual
parish which has suffered the damage is often considerable to repair, replace and
take preventative steps against future thefts.</p><table><tbody><tr><td>Year Claim
Made</td><td>2011</td><td>2012</td><td>2013</td><td>2014</td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td>Dicoese
of Blackburn</td><td>73</td><td>27</td><td>14</td><td>13</td><td>127</td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Churches listed below have registered 50 thefts in the
specified period and are the worst effected, in addition to the list below 49 other
churches have registered 77 claims in this period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Listed</strong></p><p>
</p><p>1 Lytham St Cuthbert – Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>2 Colne St Bartholomew – Grade1</p><p>
</p><p>3 Chorley St George – Grade 11*</p><p> </p><p>4 Chorley St Peter – Grade 11</p><p>
</p><p>5 Charnock Richard Christ Church – Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>6 Cockerham St Michael
– Grade 11*</p><p> </p><p>7 Hoole St Michael – Grade 11*</p><p> </p><p>8 Bamber Bridge
St Saviour – Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>9 Grimsargh St Michael – Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>10
Walton-le-Dale St Leonard – Grade 11*</p><p> </p><p>11 Church Kirk St James – Grade
11*</p><p> </p><p>12 Accrington St John Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>13 Over Kellet St Cuthbert
Grade 11*</p><p> </p><p>14 Leyland St James Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>15 Mellor St Mary
Grade II</p><p> </p><p>16 Douglas in Parbold Christ Church Grade 11</p><p> </p><p>17
Kirkham St Michael Grade 11*</p><p> </p><p>18 Woodplumpton St Anne – Grade11*</p><p>
</p><p>19 Chorley St Laurence – Grade 11 *</p><p> </p><p>20 Bolton le Sands Holy Trinity
– Grade11*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Unlisted</strong></p><p> </p><p>21
Blackburn St Luke with St Philip</p><p> </p><p>22 Layton St Mark</p><p> </p><p>23
Thornton le Fylde Christ Church</p><p> </p><p>24 Fleetwood St Nicholas</p><p>25 Little
Thornton St John</p><p>Closed churches are the responsibility for the care and maintenance
of a closed church rests with the Diocesan Board of Finance during the time that a
use is being sought following closure. There are currently very few closed churches
in the Diocese of Blackburn and we are not aware that there has been lead roof theft
from any closed church in Blackburn Diocese in the years from 2012. We are aware of
one earlier theft of lead from the roof of a former church building in the Great Harwood
area of Accrington. This building has since been demolished and the site sold for
residential development.</p><p> </p>
|
|