Dismay as vandals trash former Wigan church

St Peter’s Church in Bryn closed in 2016 and has since become increasingly derelict.

Pictures now show the state of the building after vandals broke in and wrecked the inside recently, smashing windows, a sink and furniture.

Bryn councillor Steve Jones acknowledged that there had been vandalism and that something needed to be done with the site.

Coun Jones said: “Youths have been breaking into the church and smashing windows.

“It is an old building and has been empty for a while and is in a dilapidated condition.

“The building is boarded up but because it’s such a huge building they find a way to break in.

“So because of the vandalism the church does have to be demolished.”

Coun Andrew Collinson, who also represents Bryn on Wigan Council, said: “I’ve been made aware of some vandalism at the church.

“It’s boarded up and been empty for a while.

“Something does need to be done with the site and Bryn has been for a long time wanting something like a community centre.”

The concerns about vandalism comes as protesters gathered outside the church on Sunday to oppose plans by developer The Heaton Group to demolish the church and vicarage and replace it with 28 one-bedroom apartments for the homeless.

Those plans have attracted opposition from residents who are worried the development will become a halfway house for drug users and that the facility will not be staffed 24 hours, seven days a week.

They would prefer to see a development such as a community centre, affordable housing for young people or bungalows for OAPS.

But The Heaton Group said the homes would provide temporary supported accommodation to support people and families who are hit by homelessness, and that a management team will provide a 24-hour response, seven days a week, to support residents to move on within the scheme and towards a future of independent living.

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.