Labour snatches back Union Chapel repairs cash (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Labour snatches back Union Chapel repairs cash

July 6, 2010 11:15 AM

Cllr Susan Buchanan and Cllr Terry Stacy presenting a cheque to the Union Chapel. The funding has since been withdrawn by the new Labour administration.

Local residents have reacted with fury to news that the Labour council is snatching back cash promised to Union Chapel, the famous Islington landmark, to carry out urgent repairs to the tower and spire.

Liberal Democrat councillors agreed in December 2009 to award £200,000 to the Union Chapel to allow emergency structural work to prevent the tower from collapsing. These works would then allow the scaffolding at high level on the spire to be removed and fundraising to continue for works on the lower parts of the tower.

The council funding also meant over £0.5million matched funding from English Heritage, which will also now be at risk. But Union Chapel bosses have been told by the new Labour council that the money is being withdrawn as part of its council cuts programme. An urgent meeting between council bosses and Union Chapel representatives is due this week.

St.Mary's ward Liberal Democrat councillor Sue Buchanan said:

"The Union Chapel is a local landmark which brings people from all over Islington and beyond through its doors.

"But the building is in an extremely bad state of repair. Liberal Democrat councillors were not prepared to see it crumble around our ears and identified £200,000 of council funding to help carry out these urgent repairs.

"Now we hear Labour doesn't think that saving a listed building which attracts thousands of visitors every year, serves the homeless and is one of the few places providing free entertainment to local residents is a good enough cause. What will Labour axe next?"