Church scaffolding to stay despite removal claims

The project was scheduled to last for "a couple of years", according to the church, but scaffolding has been in place for ten years

A church’s decade-old scaffolding will not be removed until at least December, despite an earlier claim that a £250,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) grant meant it could “finally” be taken down.

Scaffolding was erected around the clock tower of St Peter’s Church, Brighton, in 2014 before restoration work began the following year.

St Peter's said in April the NLHF grant would pay for work which would then allow the scaffolding to be removed.

However, it is now trying to raise £20,000 to fund the final stage of restorations needed before that can happen.

Project director Sandy Matthew said his claim that the grant will mean the scaffolding can be taken down is true, as it has partly funded the work and encouraged further investment.

The NLHF gave St Peter's £250,000 to use on events celebrating 200 years since it was built.

Mr Matthews said in April the NLHF grant would fund celebratory events and further restoration work on the tower.

“The funding will enable the church to finally remove the scaffolding which has remained in situ since 2014," he added.

£83k funding gap

Despite this, St Peter's is now asking the public for £20,000 to pay for more restoration work in September.

The work will cost £180,000. The church said it will use £72,000 of the NLHF grant, £5,000 in congregation money and £20,000 generated by the public to partly pay for the work.

It means St Peter’s would then need to raise a further £83,000 through investments before work can begin.

Mr Matthews said: "We need the crowdfunding campaign to help us [complete the work].

"Whatever we raise, will go towards it so we can remove the scaffold."