Date: October 26, 2008

THE CHAPELS – LATEST PROGRESS 

The ultimate and long term aim of ‘The Friends’ is of course the restoration of the twin terracotta Mortuary Chapels.

 In order to progress this aim a Tri-partite Group was formed which is comprised of the Friends, The Birmingham Conservation Trust and the City’s Bereavements Department.

This Group has quietly been working away and has successfully accumulated sufficient funding to enable an ‘Options Appraisal’ to be undertaken in respect of the Chapels.

During the next three months BJT Architects will be looking at the Mortuary Chapels with a multi-disciplined team comprising: a conservation architect; a structural engineer; a quantity surveyor; a community consultant; landscape consultant; and a valuation surveyor.

While this will not mean that a single brick will be replaced or any restoration work actually undertaken, this is an essential first step in our long journey.

This process will identify precisely what we have to do in respect of work and indeed fund raising to undertake any restoration.

You will be invited to take part in the process as the Options Appraisal will also include consultation with the local community; that does not mean those of us who live around the cemetery but importantly also include those who use the cemetery on a regular basis.

Important questions remain – what are we going to use the Chapels for when we achieve that ultimate goal of restoration?  There are two buildings and we need to ask essential questions centred on how do we maintain and finance them in to the future? Are we going to have two chapels for services or just one or indeed any for services? What other uses by the local community could we find for these buildings to make them self sufficient and self funding?  The permutations are numerous BUT we do need to consider their future after we have, hopefully, restored them.

The date and venue for the consultation meeting will be advertised in the local media; on our website (www.fbec.org.uk) and on our Notice Board in the cemetery.

Your opinions are important so please make every effort to contribute.

This is only another initial step on our journey but a most important one and your support is both encouraged and welcomed.

The final Recommendations arising from this Options Appraisal will be published on the website in due course.