Comunity project to convert All Saints Lonan Church abandoned

Claims a "golden opportunity has been lost"

A community initiative to convert the All Saints Church in Lonan into a "festival church" has been abandoned.

In 2016 Local Commissioner Stuart Clague and architect Tony Pass initiated a project to restore the building, which was closed in 2014, for the community.

The Diocese offered to donate the property free of charge - and the return of £70,000 of parish funds was promised to restore the building for use as a sports hall and community centre - without the involvement of any rate payers or government money.

However a small group of people in Laxey opposed the project and took the matter to the Local Government Unit.

Mr Clague was told he would be excluded from any further discussion on the project by commissioners on the grounds he had a personal interest. A legal opinion - costing £3000 - supported this move.

The Commissioners were advised to start the planning process for the conversion again, appointing a full professional team, including architects, surveyors, engineers and safety advisors - which its felt would use of all the available funds in consultancy fees.

Mr Clague and Mr Pass say what had started as a low-cost community venture has now morphed into a "monstrously expensive" project - and after two years of work they feel unable to continue.

They add that their original plans would have been funded largely from money returned from the Diocese - and if this is not spent on the restoration of the church, it will be lost and the church demolished at a cost of over £150,000.  .  . something which they claim is "a golden opportunity, lost"