Charity's plea to save church tower from demolition

A CAMPAIGN has been launched by a heritage group to save an iconic church spire from demolition - and transform it into a home.
Church Commissioners are set to decide later this month if the bulldozers should be brought in at St Peter’s Church, Birch.
It was declared redundant in 1990.
But Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust has urgently asked that the 35-metre tall spire is given a stay of execution.
They say the costs of saving and converting the whole church would be around £2million.
But it would cost about £500,000 if the spire alone was kept and extended to make it into a unique home.
Trust director David Balcombe said: “No one has ever looked at preserving the spire, and turning that, with a small extension, into a home.
“That would preserve the landmark and give Birch an identity, like Colchester’s Jumbo tower.”
Witham’s MP Priti Patel has backed the campaign.
She said: “The proposals to demolish the church and the spire are extremely sad and will cause some alarm among those who care passionately about our landscape and this iconic historical building. I hope that the views of local people will be fully considered when the Church Commissioners decide what to do and the future uses of the site.”