A historic Fife church spire could collapse unless vital works are carried out in the near future, it has emerged.
Officials within Fife Council’s property service are seeking special ecclesiastical listed building consent for restoration works to Pittenweem Parish Church in the village’s Kirkgate.
The impressive medieval church was founded some time before 1200, although most of the building dates to the 16th century when many parts of the structure were rebuilt and enlarged.
However, the focus of the planned works is on the prominent tollbooth tower, which was added in 1588.
Experts have been commissioned to oversee the project and they have underlined the urgency of the works needed, revealing part of the structure could come down if it is not soon shored up.
Paul Higginson, associate with Cupar-based Arc Architects, commented: “We have been appointed by Fife Council to recommend conservation repairs to the spire and parapet, as it has been determined to be in a dangerous condition, with the loss of mortar, severely weathered stone and decay around iron fixings, with potential to fall.”
Fife Council confirmed that at this stage there are no indicative costs or timescales for the work, but the urgency of the situation is fully understood.
Alan Paterson, from the local authority, said: “The Tollbooth which is part of the church is a common good asset, which the council is responsible for.
“We are trying to secure funding for repair works and in the meantime are preparing specifications to cost the work and applying for appropriate approvals.
“As it is a category A listed building, it may take some time to go through the appropriate planning processes.
“We’ve put scaffolding around the tower to make it safe until we can carry out restoration work.”
Not all have been happy with the current situation, however.
Local Conservative councillor Linda Holt said local residents have been dismayed to see their landmark Clock Tower “festooned with scaffolding” since last year at a cost of more than £50,000.
“The scaffolding is there, apparently indefinitely, as a health and safety measure,” she noted.
“The reason the Clock Tower is stranded in this expensive limbo is because it is part of the Pittenweem Common Good.
“Like other Common Good assets, it is owned and managed by Fife Council, but it has been subject to neglect and a grievous lack of maintenance over years by the council.
This is why it is now in such a dangerous state that it needs scaffolding to protect passing pedestrians and needs repairs costing £100,000 plus.
“We are in the ludicrous situation where instead of finding the money to restore this Grade A iconic building to its former glory, the council is instead wasting tens of thousands of pounds on ugly scaffolding.
“It has been suggested that Pittenweem’s Common Good Fund could be liquidated in whole or in part to pay for the repairs. But by eviscerating a very important source of local community funding, such a course of action would effectively punish Pittenweemers for Fife Council’s mismanagement and neglect.”
