Garff Commissioners are drafting a new proposal to refurbish the closed All Saints’ church, in Lonan.

The announcement was made at the latest commissioners’ meeting.

It saw board member Stewart Clague being asked to leave the discussion for having a ’personal interest’ in the church.

The proposal stated that the church, which was closed in 2014 due to fire risks caused by electrical faults, would be refurbished by the commissioners.

If planning permission is granted, two play areas in Lonan would also be set up with the remaining money being spent on the church project.

Nigel Dobson, chairman of the board, started the meeting by explaining that no contracts or sale was in place for the building. He said: ’A number of conspiracy theorists have suggested that this authority has been engaged in illegal contract fixing.

’I would like the board to affirm that this is not the case. That any work undertaken by members of this commission or their agents in respect of All Saints’ Church, Lonan, has not been remunerated, and that members of this commission do not have any pecuniary interest in this project.’

interest

Stewart Clague was later judged as having an interest in the proposal and was asked to leave the All Saints’ Church discussion by the chairman.

Mr Clague said: ’I am disappointed that government regulations require me to leave tonight’s meeting while the All Saints’ agenda item is discussed.

’I should have liked to have stayed and given answers to all the points and criticisms made on Facebook and by members of the Working Men’s Institute. Under the circumstances I shall forward a full written response to the questions raised for the next meeting. But in the meantime, I would encourage the commissioners to support the call from Garff residents for a requisition meeting.’

He added: ’As I am confounded as to why I am deemed to have a personal interest in the All Saints building and am required to exclude myself from the debate, I am currently considering my position on the board.’

A majority vote was cast to ’re-start’ a pre-petition process on the building, which will be discussed at the next meeting on December 15.

Nine of the 13 members of public who attended the meeting, left once the All Saints discussion had finished.

A Facebook group to discuss the commissioners’ proposal, has been set up by Lonan residents with a number of members not in favour of the possible change.

In the group’s description, it reads: ’Concerns have been raised by the failure of the commissioners to properly investigate the true financial risk to the rate payers of Garff and the necessity to create an additional venue when those present in the Garff area are under utilised.’

Some of their members have suggested that the Church of England should keep the building, which was built in 1834 and is home to two war memorials designed by Archibald Knox.