WalesOnline focusses on Carmarthen as it explores ‘thinking outside the box’ in creating new uses for places of worship to ensure the historic buildings survive for years to come.
WalesOnline writes:
Empty places of worship across Wales are raising questions over what can be done to save them from falling into disrepair.
Carmarthen is a prime example where several places have closed over the past year. Much has been made of thinking outside the box and creating new uses for places of worship to ensure the historic buildings survive for years to come. Some councillors have been vocal in the past about Cadw needed to loosen the leash and allow greater freedom for historic buildings to be put to other uses.
Former Carmarthenshire Council lemapader Kevin Madge urged the authority in October to call on the Welsh Government to deliver a new strategy to deal with large empty properties. In a motion before a meeting of the full council, councillor Kevin Madge set out the need for old chapels, churches and halls to be brought back into use, along with other unused buildings. He argues the action could see some of the properties transformed into new homes which will help with the housing shortfall. Mr Madge also criticised Cadw for having branded ‘too many buildings as listed over the years’.
He said: ‘We are blighted with some of them, people cannot do anything with them. Unless we do anything the problem will double and treble in ten years time.’
Councillors backed his motion at the time. Even BBC news anchor, presenter and journalist Huw Edwards has had his say during the past year over the future of at risk chapels and places of worship in Carmarthen , Llanelli and Wales in general. He said in August: ‘We have to prioritise ruthlessly. Put simply, there is a small category of buildings and monuments whose importance is exceptional. There will, inevitably, be some excited debate about which ones make the grade, but we are talking about heritage assets which must be protected at all costs.’
Up for sale, sold or closed over the past 12 months in Carmarthen have been five places of worship:
- Bethania Chapel in Priory Street
- Heol Dwr Chapel in Water Street
- Zion Chapel in Mansel Street
- Penuel Chapel in Priory Street
- Congregational Chapel in Union Street
… Cadw has been asked to comment on the issue facing closed or at risk places of worship and how they futures can be preserved…
