Metal theft bill heads back to Commons O On 12 September the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill 2012 completed its committee stage in the House of Commons. It is scheduled for both report stage and third reading on 9 November. Following the second reading of the Bill in July, Janet Gough, director of the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division of the C of E’s Archbishops’ Council, said: “We thank Richard Ottaway MP and all those making positive contributions to today's debate as the Bill moves forward to its Committee Stage in the autumn. We are confident that the government will find time to take this important Bill forward.” According to the Church of England, the menace of lead theft and the consequential damage is the single biggest problem facing church buildings today, having cost churches more than £27.5m in the past six years. Offences increased by one third between 2010 and 2011 alone. The Bill stipulates tougher applications for obtaining a dealer’s licence, greater powers for police and local authorities to suspend and revoke licences of illegal operators, and a single national register of licensed dealers. Richard Crompton, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ lead on heritage crime, said:
St Laurence’s Church in Slough after its roof valley gutter was stripped of its lead
“The theft of lead, particularly from churches, is a major issue which has upset and affected communities right across the country. This sort of crime strikes at the very heart of communities and damages and destroys our shared heritage.” An initiative to combat the threat was launched by Ecclesiastical Insurance in February. The ’Hands Off Our Church Roofs’
campaign, launched at an inner-city church in Manchester, involves the installation of sophisticated electronic alarm systems in selected ‘at risk’ churches in the 42 C of E dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland. Once triggered by concealed sensors, the alarms activate flashing blue lights and a ‘voice from above’ issues a warning that the alarm has sounded. R
New roof suits both building and its owners O Owners of an 1820's property in Midlothian, Scotland, can breathe more easily thanks to the attentions of lead roofing specialist Bolton Roofing of Edinburgh. The existing zinc roof coverings had failed and needed replacing. A number of alternative roofing systems were suggested for the project, with the original appearance, the life expectancy of the roof and the overall cost all being key factors. Bolton Roofing proposed a traditional ‘wood roll’ design in Code 5 lead to enhance the property’s period appearance. As members of the Lead Contractors’ Association, the company was able to offer the client the LCA 25-year guarantee scheme for the new lead roofing system included in the quotation. The lead conformed to BS EN 12588 and was laid to the Lead Sheet Association specifications. Said director Robin Bolton: “With the guarantee applied there was no doubt to our client that there was no alternative and our recommendation was the far better choice.” Bolton Roofing also installed a number of Ubink ventilators into the pitched section of the roof to improve ventilation, so the roof itself breathes more easily, too. R
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