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Parishioners Anton Coyle, Jerome Twomey, Helen Noland and Maura Scaffardi |
Churchgoers fight to save parish centre they built
Retired builder attacks demolition plan to make way for homes
A RETIRED builder who worked hundreds of hours for free maintaining a popular community centre in Archway has branded parish priests “heartless” for wanting to knock it down to build luxury housing.
Jerome Twomey, 70, has waded into a campaign against plans by St Joseph’s Church, in Highgate Hill, to demolish the centre – built and paid for by parishioners and friends – to make way for new flats and homes. Architects working on the development say a new community centre will be included.
The controversial £25 million development will include 16 homes for priests among its 44 houses and flats.
A plan to build on St Joseph’s school playground was scrapped by the developers following a campaign by parents and children last year.
Mr Twomey, a civil engineering contractor who once employed eight people, is a founder and life member of the community centre.
He said: “Whenever I saw the centre was in trouble, I tried to help as best I could. I’ve never charged the church for anything I’ve done.
“I love this place and I’ve been coming here nearly all my life. I’ve worked hundreds of man hours over the years, all for free.”
In the centre’s early days, according to Mr Twomey, life members would pay £100 each to finance the building and renovations. Five years ago, the centre committee raised £20,000 for a new roof through donations and sponsorships.
He added: “I walked in here one day and the rain was coming through the roof and Father Christopher said: ‘Jerome, I’ve been praying for a miracle and here you are.’ So I put up a scaffolding and climbed onto the roof and repaired it. Any time they needed plumbing and fencing I’d do it. So I feel I have a stake in the community centre, as do other members of the committee.
“It is very unfair that the priests think they can just sell off the site for developments.”
Another member of the committee, Helen Nolan, said: “We understand the priests must have a place to live in retirement. But there’s plenty of room on the site and there’s no need to knock the heart out of the community by demolishing the centre.”
Father Mark White, of St Joseph’s, was unavailable to comment this week but architect Eleanor Frost, of Frost Associates, designers of the scheme, said that a new community centre would be provided within the new development.
She added: “I can’t say whether or not it will be the same size and function as the current centre – that is still up for discussion. But it has always been part of the scheme.” She added that the scheme is still in the early stages of preparation. |
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