West Wylam’s Victorian Ebenezer Chapel Set for Demolition to Make Way for Housing
Plans to demolish the historic chapel for new housing face community backlash
West Wylam, Prudhoe, Chapel, Housing, Community, Karbon Homes
Prudhoe: There’s a lot of buzz around the plans to knock down the old Ebenezer Chapel. It’s been a hot topic in the community lately.
The chapel, built way back in 1874, has seen better days. It’s been empty for about ten years now, and folks are worried about losing a piece of their history.
Karbon Homes wants to replace it with eight one-bedroom apartments. They say the chapel is in bad shape and too costly to fix up. But many locals aren’t buying it.
Russ Greig from the Friends of Eastwood Park group spoke up at the meeting, saying it would only take £300,000 to restore the chapel. He believes that’s a small price to pay for their heritage.
He pointed out that West Wylam is struggling and needs investment, not the loss of a community space. It’s tough for people there, and they want to keep what little they have.
On the flip side, Martin Hawthorne from Karbon Homes argued that the building is crumbling and unsafe. He mentioned that they had to think about the safety of their workers during the survey.
While some council members were hesitant about the demolition, they couldn’t find a solid reason to stop the plans. It’s a tough situation, balancing the need for housing with preserving history.
In the end, the council voted, and the plans passed with eight votes in favor and three against. It’s a bittersweet moment for the community, as they face the reality of losing a cherished landmark.