A resident has raised concerns about the condition of a Grade II listed church building in Westbury Leigh, saying the building is deteriorating and risks further damage if action is not taken.
Rachel Stroud contacted Wiltshire Council in September after noticing boarding had come away from several windows at the derelict former Baptist church, leaving the interior exposed to bad weather and birds. Having seen no improvements, she reported the issue to Westbury Town Council recently.
She said, “Nothing has been done to secure the building, I also noticed that several window boards are also very loose and there are holes around the main front door – this leaves the neglected building insecure. Recently, some slate tiles have also come off of the roof, that will cause even more damage if something isn’t done to protect this listed building.”
Concerns about the site have been raised before. The church, which dates from the late 18th century with later additions, was the subject of enforcement action in 2020 after unauthorised alterations were made during an attempted conversion into flats. A planning inspector rejected appeals for further changes, describing the internal works as harmful to the historic fabric and character of the former chapel.
Despite this, town councillors reported in 2022 that the building had been left derelict, adding to wider frustration over what they described as a lack of planning enforcement action by Wiltshire Council across the town.
Now, Wiltshire councillor Gordon King said he has been out to visit the building following the resident’s concern. He said in an email to the town council, “I would agree with the complainer that the building is open to the elements and vulnerable to water, bird and vermin ingress.”
“I will contact planning enforcement (the developer has an obligation under the terms of his consent to guarantee the security of the building) and building control for these conditions to be upheld at his expense.”
At a meeting of the Highways, Planning and Development Committee of Westbury Town Council on 17th November, councillors agreed that the town clerk would write to Wiltshire Council’s planning enforcement and building control teams to establish what action is being taken to protect the building from further deterioration.
