Not a few people have asked why I haven't been reporting on the development of our new hall. The short answer is: delays in satisfying Conservation Planning Officers with regard to roof tiles and the stone facing. The whole story is a saga and in order to do my soul little damage is perhaps best kept off the blogosphere! Suffice to say that there huge questions that need asking about the Planning Regulations in this country and how power is in the hands of just one individual!
So the roof tiles are not yet in place and this has meant that the hall cannot be plastered, wich has delayed all the other internal fittings being installed. Similarly the stone facing has been delayed. The whole project will be virtually three months behind schedule when complete. Is "dischuffed" too strong a word?
However, the plasterers have been able now to complete their work in the eastern half of the building works and this means that the heating and plumbing engineers can begin to install the boiler and the rest of the plumbing so that we will have heating available in church within a few weeks.
The Architect, Builders met with us on Monday of last week and I can report that apart from the mortar thickness and distressing of the stone the only other outstanding matter from the Conservation Planning Officer’s list of conditions is the chimney stack. Apparently he has found an old photograph showing a top course of stone that was much more decorative on the original chimney stack before it was taken down to be capped off. Our architect is concerned that if that were to be replicated it would not last very long before the northern aspect and weather led to it wearing away.
I can also report that the roof tiles could be with us within the next two weeks which is earlier than anticipated and providing the matter of the thickness of the mortar joints and distressing of the stone facing has been resolved then the stone facing works may begin shortly. So within a month we should see some significant progress.
Once the roof tiles are affixed the hall itself will be plastered and when that is dry the fitting of internal woodwork, electrics and the kitchen unit can take place.
There is little point including pictures of drying plaster!
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