Chimney at church has to be demolished (From The Bolton News)

Chimney at church has to be demolished

8:48am Monday 31st December 2012 in Local

LISTED building consent is being sought to demolish a chimney at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Wingates.

An application has been submitted to Bolton Council’s planning committee to remove a 1940s chimney on the chancel wall on the north side of the building in Chorley Road.

The chimney is no longer used and, according to the plans, demolishing it would restore the Grade II-listed building, which dates back to 1858, to its original appearance.

The planning application would also allow experts to reach an area of the church which is a suspected source of damp.

The application said: “The brick chimney is a later addition to the building and out of keeping with the character of the rest of the building. The area of damp on the interior of the north facing wall of the chancel cannot be left unattended.

“Remedial action is urgently required to halt the damp from spreading further.”