Falling church masonry risk prompts netting plan

Masonry has started to "crumble" and fall from a church in Leicester, prompting plans for new safety measures.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has stood on the corner of London Road and University Road since the 1850s.

The church's board has said steps now need to be taken to prevent fragments from "falling directly on to members of the public".

It is seeking permission from Leicester City Council to install temporary netting on the outer walls of the building to catch the fragments and "reduce the risk of injury", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The documents state that similar measures have been used previously on historic buildings and add that the netting in this case would be a "discreet fine mesh".

The church's board said the time was "not quite right" for a major renovation of the church, partially due to funding.

Residents have until 12 August to have their say on the plans, with a decision expected by 18 August.

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