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George Hammer shows his evidence of the deteriorating state of St Mark’s |
SAVED CHURCH FALLING DOWN
Developer: ‘Claims that crumbling building is safe are a joke’
THE millionaire developer behind plans to transform St Mark’s Church into an alternative health centre has claimed an alarming state of deterioration of the building just three months after residents saved it.
Dozens of yellow buckets are scattered along the aisle to catch water from the leaking roof, the pews are strewn with broken pieces of plaster and splodges of damp are visible on the walls.
The West End Extra was taken around the Grade I-listed Mayfair Church by George Hammer who lives in the vicarage next door and still holds the keys, despite having his proposals rejected by Westminster’s planning committee last December.
His scheme for a holistic “Wellness Centre”, which had the backing of the Church of England, was unanimously rejected to the delight of the Save St Mark’s Campaign and their leader, the supermarket heiress Lady Sainsbury.
The campaign group is also angry at the physical condition of the church, but maintains its stand against a commercial use and has demanded more transparency from its owners, the Diocese of London.
The damage is apparently markedly more severe and widespread than when the church was last open to the public in October.?
Mr Hammer is readying his legal team to appeal the decision and says the state of the church makes a “joke” out of campaigners’ claims to have saved it.
He said: “It’s a complete joke to say the church has been saved. Every day it crumbles more and more and already it’s much worse than three months ago. Bits of the roof are literally dropping off – it’s very dangerous.
“We will appeal the decision and I think we have a good chance because more and more I see the decision as a political one, and not one based on planning itself.”
Members of the Save St Mark’s Campaign met local MP Mark Field on the steps of the church on Tuesday morning.
They are confident that the buildings owners, the Diocese of London, will listen to offers from a Church group to put up the £6million needed for its repair and to keep it open to the local community.
The diocese would not confirm whether it had received an offer from the church group Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), which has stepped in to rescue similar at-risk buildings.
But whether HTB or the former congregation, the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship, has the money needed for the repairs could be immaterial until after Mr Hammer has his day at the Appeal Court.
Mr Hammer has said that should he win the appeal, he will consider negotiating with campaigners over how to get the best community use from the building.
His plans to open the building for free to cancer sufferers in the Mayfair postcode – branded a “PR stunt” by campaigners – still stands, he says.
Mr Hammer is calling on Lady Sainsbury to get in touch.
“I am open to discussion and am not ruling anything out,” he said. “If Lady Sainsbury wants to talk, she knows where I am,” he said.
Kirk Mitchell from the Save St Mark’s Campaign, said: “We have saved the church from commercial vulturism.
“This isn’t a personal battle with Mr Hammer, its about what’s best for the Mayfair community.
“We don’t know why the diocese aren’t considering other offers because it is true that while left alone, the church is deteriorating.”
Lady Sainsbury and the diocese were unavailable for comment. |
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