Council urges talks over town's collapsed walls

The original collapse happened in February 2013 and has still not been fixed

Landowners and other groups have been urged to join forces to look at next steps for fixing Ludlow's collapsed town walls.

The section near St Laurence's Church collapsed 12 years ago, but repairs have not been carried out because of a disagreement over who has responsibility.

Ludlow Town Council said the ownership and responsibility for the walls were "complicated and contentious matters", but there was a clear path for progress.

It said it would take a full and active part in the work, on a no liability basis, and urged all other interested parties to discuss next steps.

Fears that more sections of wall could collapses were raised this year.

New structure needed

In a statement, the council said it had historically led on many measures needed to progress repairs, including obtaining a structural engineer's report.

It said the report had found several factors that were likely to have led to the collapse.

They included water pressure in the subsoil, apparent degradation of the wall mortar and inadequate thickness of the masonry.

"All the long-term solutions for the wall are likely to require a new structure," the council said.

A meeting earlier this year was attended by South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson, representatives from the Diocese of Hereford, the Parochial Church Council of St Laurence, Shropshire Council and other interested parties.

That meeting heard from Historic England that a feasibility study was needed to look at rebuilding options, so interested parties could identify the most appropriate solution.

Historic England also said the feasibility study needed to be progressed before funding could be applied for.

The church would need to approve any scheme, the meeting was told.