Communitiescanbenefitfromdisusedchapels
WHILE some might well regret that the majority have discarded Christianity to adopt materialism as the philosophy they wish to live by, it does not serve the interest of anyone to permit the splendid chapels of South Wales, now deserted, to fall into ruin.
These fine buildings, created by the pennies of our forefathers, can at least honourably serve the needs of a new generation, by being converted into housing.
While some part of that change might be achieved by the private market, it is absolutely essential that the combined local authorities play a guiding part, not in supplying money, but giving intellectual understanding.
The biggest single problem must always be the legal problems of graveyards, where the legal interest of a few people will militate strongly against the interest of the majority, and this requires to be solved sensitively, by widespread consultation.
Does this require a fundamental change in the law? Estate agents cannot possibly find the answer to such problems.
There are all sorts of minor problems, of car parking, adaptation from one storey into two storeys, of dividing windows to provide sunlight throughout the modified building, and the substitution of plastic instead of lead in the roof, to prevent the ingress of water, and to discourage the numerous thieves who intend to live by these standards.
Perhaps the local authorities could commission some imaginative architects to supply some generalised, overall advice in a published document about the designs, maintenance, long-term potential, broadband efficiency, heat insulation, energy saving devices, pitfalls and load-bearing problems which might face builders and architects who take on such commissions.
It makes better sense for us all to perceive this as a universal good for the community, supplying high quality housing, solving the problem of an eyesore in every village, and paying due homage to the debt which we cannot repay to our ancestors.