THESE pictures show how demolition is underway at a former Catholic Church that has stood in a community for more than 80 years.
St Peter and St Paul's Church on Woodlands Road, Haresfinch, is being brought down.
As the Star reported last year, an application was sent to the council last year seeking consent to flatten the former place of worship.
The church had served the community for more than eight decades, with the construction of the building having begun during the interwar period in 1938.
As the Star has previously reported, the church was closed by the Archdiocese of Liverpool in 2020.
A planning application had said the redundant buildings would be "at risk from vandalism and fire" if left unoccupied.
In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, the Archdiocese of Liverpool made the decision to close St Peter & St Paul's Church.
Pastoral provision for the parishioners of St Peter and Paul is now provided at Holy Cross Church in the town centre.
The council said that prior approval was required for the demolition "as the buildings on site had bird and bat roosting potential".
It was also said the building "is considered to have historical interest".
Planning decision
Case officer Daley Parsonage noted last year that since submission, a "report states that no evidence of bat use or presence was found and the council does not need to consider the proposals against the three tests of the Habitats Regulations".
It was also noted the applicant has since submitted a Heritage Statement "in support of the planning application for demolition".
Mr Parsonage recommended prior approval be granted for the demolition, stating: "Given the above additional information it is considered that the demolition of the building would not harm protected species and adequately addressed the significance of the building".
The heritage statement said: "The demolition of the building will impact the heritage asset, and historic fabric will be lost.
"If the proposal is deemed acceptable, to mitigate the loss of historical fabric it is recommended that a programme of historic building recording be undertaken, for preservation by record".
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