Rowdy drinkers push clergy into £1m move

LATE-NIGHT nuisance from rowdy drinkers is forcing church bosses to fork out nearly £1m for new homes for some of its top clergy.

The Dean, Rev Kathy Jones, has already moved and Canon David Fisher is set to quit the residence near Bangor Cathedral.

Although Diocese leaders say there are other factors behind the decision to quit the properties, they have said that anti-social behaviour is one of the main reasons.

But critics from within the congregation have said they are unhappy at the moves, given the amount of money spent on improvements to the houses so far.

Roughly two years ago former Dean Rev Susan Jones spent £89,000 to improve the deanery house, which has now been deemed not fit for purpose.

One house has already been bought for well over £400,000, and the second is expected to cost somewhere in the same region.

The total bill for the two new homes – which it is claimed could be up to £1m – is well above the average house price in the area of around £160,000.

Lifelong church worshipper Mark Roberts, 66, said: “The whole thing is a sham. It was only 18 months ago the Diocese of Bangor splashed out almost £100,000 on internal refurbishment of the present Deanery.

“Now the Bishop says the property has to be vacated because of noise nuisance in the town centre.

“Neither the present Canon nor Dean Susan Jones, who quit her post last year, have ever objected against pub late night opening hours or, so far as I know, reported threats on their domestic properties to the police.”

The Church in Wales did not say what it plans to do with the properties once the Canon has moved out.

A statement from Bangor Cathedral, issued in a newsletter, said: “It has been evident for some time that the Deanery building presents challenges as a home and place of work.

“The location of the Deanery building means that residents can be subjected to noise and anti-social behaviour, especially late at night.

“Although some work to improve the shape of the building has been undertaken, the challenges are severe.

“The Diocesan Parsonage Board has therefore decided to seek alternative accommodation for the Dean and the Canon Precentor and their families elsewhere in Bangor.”