Bid to transform historic lodge 'beyond rescuing'

11 hours ago

Adam PostansLocal Democracy Reporting Service

A charity which runs the cemetery said the building was in a "dangerous condition"

Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust An old building with bushes growing out of it and a large stone block. — A charity which runs the cemetery said the building was in a "dangerous condition"

A dilapidated historic lodge at a cemetery could be demolished and replaced with a community centre.

The charity which runs Arnos Vale Cemetery in Brislington, Bristol, has launched a bid to knock down the two-storey, 19th century Top Lodge.

In its application to Bristol City Council, Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust said the building, which is situated opposite the Cemetery Road gates, was in a "dangerous condition" and was "beyond rescuing".

The trust said its proposals included plans for a small community centre, but it would run public workshops to ask for further ideas.

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According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the trust said the building was in disrepair - with the first floor, the staircase and its south-facing roof almost gone.

The trust said: "The chimney stacks are being dislodged brick-by-brick during high winds.

"There is one crack on the south elevation and a much larger one on the east-facing gable."

It said it was also concerned visitors could get hurt and monuments could be damaged by the falling building.

"Given the location of the building, this could also mean access is restricted to our woodland burial [site] and therefore prevent natural burials from taking place," it added.

Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust wants to tear the building down and build something new

Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust An old building with bushes growing out of its roof and a large stone block. — Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust wants to tear the building down and build something new

The trust said if left unmanaged, the building would "ultimately collapse" and a secondary woodland would colonise all remaining open space".

"All graves would become lost in a dense thicket of woodland scrub," it said.

"Eventually, by the process of natural succession, a mature woodland would become established over a desecrated cemetery," it added.

"This scenario does not even have the benefit of improving the wildlife interest of the site; a managed cemetery can be designed to provide a far wider range of habitats."

On what could replace the building, the trust said: "Although we have two large chapels, they are expensive to heat and staff, pricing out smaller local groups.

"Having a smaller, easier to manage space could prove popular and we want to investigate this with our local community," it added.

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