Cathedral gardens revamp criticised by heritage group
English Heritage has raised concerns about £3 million plans to revamp the area outside Leicester Cathedral.
The heritage watchdog says it is unhappy with elements of the Cathedral Gardens project and has joined the Leicester Civic Society in voicing misgivings about the scheme.
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Church leaders say they want to create a worthy setting for the 12th-century building, in St Martin's, and an attractive public space.
However, English Heritage has looked at details of the scheme and, though it supports the principle, it says it cannot support it in its current form.
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In a letter to Leicester City Council planning officers, its historic building adviser, Helen Ensor, said: "Overall, we see the potential for intervention into this now tired-looking space and the opportunity to create a fitting and functional new forecourt to the cathedral.
"However, we cannot fully support the scheme at this stage and would welcome the opportunity to advise further.
English Heritage opposes the removal of listed railings along the boundary of St Martin's House and St Martin's Lane West as well as the use of Roman-style paving stones.
It has also objected to the removal of headstones.
Ms Ensor said: "Not only are they fine and interesting sculptural elements which point to the cathedral's past as a medieval parish church, but they also represent the life and death of the people who have worshipped here and must be considered as important to the social history of the church and city."
As previously reported in the Mercury, the civic society opposes plans to reduce the height of a grade II-listed Tudor wall, which dates back to 1519, and was part of the Wyggeston Hospital.
It also objects to the alterations to another grade II-listed wall from 1757 which will be reduced in height from eight feet to 16 inches and have an opening created to allow access to the cathedral visitor centre.
It says these will be a loss of historic fabric that has not been justified.
Civic society chairman Stuart Bailey did, however, say the designs for the area were generally of a high quality.
Nobody from the Diocese of Leicester was available for comment yesterday, but the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, has previously said: "Work has been going on to develop proposals for a new Cathedral Gardens space, uniting the current cathedral precincts and St Martin's House grounds to provide not only a more fitting setting for our cathedral, but also a safe and beautiful garden space at the heart of our city for all its residents and visitors."
Comments
by Kohelet
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 6:14PM
“When it says "a public space", how public is public”
by jimbob6163
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 5:52PM
“Why does everyone want to destroy our history just leave well alone it look nice as is, and I agree with djh_1m1 if the church can afford this they should be helping the homeless, as to the women bishops the church of England is on a Suicidal coarse”
by ricardo32x
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 3:50PM
“Everything of historical value should be left alone. What is it with the Leicester city council that it is always wanting to pull stuff down and revamp it, or make carparks of it.
We have lost a lot of our heritage.”
by New_Walk_View
Sunday, December 30 2012, 11:21PM
“@pennineer
You're kidding, surely?
Check out the thousands of other buildings and structures that English Heritage have saved from decay and destruction before dismissing them so lightly.”
by braunstoneboy
Sunday, December 30 2012, 2:47PM
“Maybe a bit nieve here,but would it not be not have been a good idea for the "Church,English Heritage,Civic Society and planning building advisor" to have all sat around and debated the issue prior to throwing the issue out into the public domain?
At a guess,this idea has been going for quite a while.Was it part of joining parts of Leicester with ego petes park?Was it included in the plans to go ahead if we find that Richard 111 is over the road.Or is it all singular "planning "?
Nice pic ,but it does seem a bit short on seating and litter bins.”
by ddb223
Saturday, December 29 2012, 10:24PM
“Every time any money is mentioned on this site, some one moans about it. People need to join the real world and realise it's not 1980 anymore and inflation does occur. The majority of the £3million budget will be spent on wages and materials.”
by georgeisafish
Saturday, December 29 2012, 7:42PM
“hold on, how much? thats got to be a misprint? 3 million quid!”
by Danzig
Saturday, December 29 2012, 12:58PM
“In the eighties this site was revamped. The head stones were removed and the graves were dug up. Finger bones and skulls were clearly visible in the soil.Its a pity that no respect was given then by either the church or leicester city council.”
by djh_lm1
Saturday, December 29 2012, 11:49AM
“The church can afford to pay for this? Perhaps they should be helping the homeless, feeding the needy, and other charitable works as the Bible tells them to do? I remember, the Church Of England does not follow the Bible, examples are those of the recent attempts to have women Bishops.”