Question

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which Church of England churches in the Diocese of Blackburn were subject to metal theft from rooves in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014; and which such churches were redundant.

With regards to open churches the number of churches in the Blackburn Diocese which have suffered from metal theft can be found on the chart below. The chart shows the volume of claims have dropped dramatically since 2011 when the Scrap Metal Dealers Act was enforced there are still a small number of persistent gangs operating across the country who continue to damage and vandalise these local community assets. The total number of thefts does not tell the whole story as the cost to the individual parish which has suffered the damage is often considerable to repair, replace and take preventative steps against future thefts.

The Churches listed below have registered 50 thefts in the specified period and are the worst effected, in addition to the list below 49 other churches have registered 77 claims in this period.

Listed

1 Lytham St Cuthbert – Grade 11

2 Colne St Bartholomew – Grade1

3 Chorley St George – Grade 11*

4 Chorley St Peter – Grade 11

5 Charnock Richard Christ Church – Grade 11

6 Cockerham St Michael – Grade 11*

7 Hoole St Michael – Grade 11*

8 Bamber Bridge St Saviour – Grade 11

9 Grimsargh St Michael – Grade 11

10 Walton-le-Dale St Leonard – Grade 11*

11 Church Kirk St James – Grade 11*

12 Accrington St John Grade 11

13 Over Kellet St Cuthbert Grade 11*

14 Leyland St James Grade 11

15 Mellor St Mary Grade II

16 Douglas in Parbold Christ Church Grade 11

17 Kirkham St Michael Grade 11*

18 Woodplumpton St Anne – Grade11*

19 Chorley St Laurence – Grade 11 *

20 Bolton le Sands Holy Trinity – Grade11*

Unlisted

21 Blackburn St Luke with St Philip

22 Layton St Mark

23 Thornton le Fylde Christ Church

24 Fleetwood St Nicholas

25 Little Thornton St John

Closed churches are the responsibility for the care and maintenance of a closed church rests with the Diocesan Board of Finance during the time that a use is being sought following closure. There are currently very few closed churches in the Diocese of Blackburn and we are not aware that there has been lead roof theft from any closed church in Blackburn Diocese in the years from 2012. We are aware of one earlier theft of lead from the roof of a former church building in the Great Harwood area of Accrington. This building has since been demolished and the site sold for residential development.