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Global campaign to save cathedral Crumbling cathedral 'needs £50m'
(40 minutes later)
A global fundraising campaign is being launched to raise money for repairs to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent. A £50m global fundraising campaign has been launched to save Canterbury Cathedral, which is crumbling because of the effects of age and pollution.
Campaign director Brigadier David Innes said parts of the building might have to be closed to the public if not enough cash was raised. Deteriorating stonework and a leaking roof mean parts of the Kent cathedral might have to be closed unless the cash is raised, fundraisers said on Tuesday.
"The cathedral has a huge amount that is right about it but it is also a very old building," Brig Innes said. "It requires a great deal of care." "Visitors look at the cathedral and think it will stand for another 1,000 years," said chairman Allan Willetts.
"The picture postcard image masks a very different reality."
He added: "Our message is stark, blunt and urgent - save Canterbury Cathedral, it is as simple as that."
The cathedral - founded by St Augustine in 597 - costs over £6m a year to run.The cathedral - founded by St Augustine in 597 - costs over £6m a year to run.
The one million tourists who visit annually are charged to get into the precincts. Broke even
Conservation work The one million tourists who visit annually are charged up to £6 to get into the precincts.
Brig Innes said careful financial management meant the cathedral broke even each year but it was unable to generate sufficient income to pay for conservation work. Campaign director Brigadier David Innes said careful financial management meant the cathedral broke even each year but it was unable to generate sufficient income to pay for conservation work.
The effects of old age and pollution meant major projects needed to be undertaken.The effects of old age and pollution meant major projects needed to be undertaken.
One example was replacement of the lead on the roofs, which was coming to the end of its life.One example was replacement of the lead on the roofs, which was coming to the end of its life.
"The sort of lead we use lasts about 100 to 150 years," said Brig Innes."The sort of lead we use lasts about 100 to 150 years," said Brig Innes.
"One of the major projects we will be seeking to tackle over the next few years will be to redo the lead roofs of the cathedral."One of the major projects we will be seeking to tackle over the next few years will be to redo the lead roofs of the cathedral.
"The sheer size of the building and the height above the ground means that it is a very expensive task.""The sheer size of the building and the height above the ground means that it is a very expensive task."
'Already leaking'
He said the exact figure needed would not be revealed until the fund-raising campaign was launched on Tuesday.
If insufficient money was raised, parts of the cathedral would have to be closed on health and safety grounds.
"The roof is already leaking in some areas," he said.
"As soon as that happens you have additional problems inside - the wood begins to rot, you get trouble with the walls where the masonry begins to crumble and parts of the building become unsafe."