Owner wants to demolish part of listed Telford church damaged in fire after unpopular wine bar plans withdrawn

The owner of Fletcher Methodist Church on Court Street in Madeley has applied to Telford & Wrekin Council to demolish part of the Grade II listed building, which was damaged by fire earlier this year.

The building has stood empty since it was last used in 2011. In September 2023, plans were revealed to turn the property into a 'chic' wine bar, open market and hairdressers. 

But the application quickly came under fire from local residents, who raised concerns over the impact of late-night revellers on neighbouring homes. 

As well as concerns over potential noise and parking issues, one local business owner worried for her and her customers' safety. 

Alice Blair of Salon 72 wrote: "It’s already worrying enough for myself and my staff to walk to our cars at night in Madeley after work when it’s dark without being met by lots of intoxicated people." 

Mr Ian Brewerton of CJ Williams Funeral Service added: "We already experience inappropriate public behaviour; from defecating against our outer wall, to parking on our car park and general littering/smashing glass on our frontage/car park and on Burnt Hall Lane at the side of our property."

Before the council came to a decision, the plans were withdrawn by the applicant in April this year.

Then, in the early hours of Saturday, May 25, several crews from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were sent to the building on Court Street following a report of a fire.

Firefighters and police were at the scene for around two hours - fortunately, it was reported that no people were involved in the blaze.

As a result of the incident, a section of the rear extension was severely damaged, with all of the roof joists and rafters being burned and many of the roof tiles damaged. 

Most of the flooring, which was timber, was also damaged in the blaze, along with two gable walls which have been destabilised by the damage.

The application added: "The fire damaged section of the rear extensions lies between two other sections of these extensions. Effectively, the northern and southern walls (the gables) remain in part, but are structurally compromised and will be more so if what remains of the roof structure is removed." 

In September, Telford & Wrekin Council served an Urgent Works Notice on the building's owner, requiring them to undertake repairs to the listed building as soon as possible.

Fletcher Methodist Church was originally built in 1841, but planning agents Kembertons, making the new application on behalf of owner Mr Mark Chamberlain, argue the significance of the building has "substantially reduced since it was first constructed".

The application continues: "It no longer forms a focal point for the local community, and its appearance does not display any important or especially interesting architectural or local features. It is no longer a place of worship for people of the Methodist movement. 

"The significance of the church lies more in its association with what was the growing Fletcher Methodist movement, which had a significant following in the Madeley area in the early 19th century. 

"It stands as a reminder of the importance of non-conformist denominations in the latter period of the Industrial Revolution. Many such denominations still exist whilst others, like the Madeley Methodist Church, have abandoned their original places of worship."

If the plans are given the green light, two gables which have been affected by the fire will be removed, along with the remains of the fire damaged roof. The application states that it is likely that the timber floor would also have to be removed.

The application added: "The proposed demolition will remove one element of the single-storey extensions to the rear of the main structure on the site. A gap will result in the extent of the rear extensions to the church. This will, however, be only a temporary situation.

"The fire damage has not altered the applicant’s desire to create a viable use for the building and to restore it as a focal point in Madeley town centre. 

"It may be necessary to rethink exactly what form a new viable use for the building may take bearing in mind the extent of the damage, but it will certainly involve filling the gap that will result from the currently proposed demolition."

The application can be viewed online on Telford & Wrekin Council's planning portal using reference number:  TWC/2024/0800