Chimney Pots is the building on Church Street between the Church Inn and the alleyway to St Lawrence’s Church. It has been covered in scaffolding for months.
In recent days, Chimney Pots has inspected by engineers. They found the building to be at risk and potentially unstable. To ensure public safety, the scaffolding is to be extended urgently to prop up the building.
The reconfigured scaffolding will close Church Street at the Buttercross except for pedestrians. The alleyway to St Laurence’s Church will be closed completely for scaffolding and boarding.
There is yet no timescale for the closures but given the nature of the work, we are talking of weeks, not days, and more probably of works lasting well into the summer.
The closure will particularly affect residents on Upper Linney who own cars. They will no longer be able to drive along Church Street.
Non-urgent roadworks on Upper Linney will not be allowed. However, urgent works such as water leaks could close the road completely creating difficulties for residents and emergency services.
Road closed signs will be in place along with “business’s open as usual” signs.
This closure is untimely for Ludlow. The visitor season is now picking up. With good signage, it will be manageable. We have had these problems before. The repair of the Buttercross closed King Street to traffic in 2020.
The closure means that St Laurence’s Church must be accessed from College Street or through Bull Yard and up the steps. Currently, one of the handrails on the steps is missing. I have asked for this to be repaired urgently.