FOUR years after a collapse of the section of the Ludlow Town Walls a call has been made for something to be done.

People living in part of the town had to move out for a short time when a section of wall collapsed below the church.

Some temporary work was undertaken but no long-term plan has been developed despite discussions involving Ludlow Town Council, Shropshire Council and St Laurence Church.

One issue has been the problem in establishing who is responsible for the section of wall.

Now Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow North on Shropshire Council, says that the time has come for action.

“On Saturday, it was four years to the day since the town walls behind St Laurence’s church fell collapsed,” said Andy Boddington.

“Almost nothing has happened to get repairs underway. The town council has missed the 2017 funding cycle. There must now be doubt whether the council can get funding in place by 2018. It should appoint a heritage champion to ensure that there are no further delays in getting the walls repaired. Otherwise, I fear it will be years before the repairs start."

The walls behind St Laurence’s Church fell during a particularly bad winter.

Water had built up in the graveyard, the town wall acting like the dam of a reservoir. A prolonged freeze put pressure on the wall as the ground expanded.

The situation was made worse because, in the past, the wall had been repaired with modern cement, not historic lime mortar.

It was February 18, 2013 when a section of wall gave way resulting in some people living below the collapse being evacuated from their homes for a short time.

“At first Shropshire Council said money was not an issue,” added Andy Boddington.

“But when it realised it might not be responsible for the repairs, it dug its heels in over paying. The council shelled out for the shoring and Heras fencing.

“It also commissioned an archaeological survey.

“But it was adamant that it was not responsible for the costs of repairs. Lawyers backed the council. After some very difficult meetings, and the passing of two-and-a-half years, Ludlow Town Council accepted responsibility for repairs.

“That was in October 2015. Nothing much has happened since then.

“The walls can’t be fixed in 2017 because no money is in place – or even applied for. An application for a large heritage grant takes at least a year, and in our cash-strapped times, two years is closer to the mark. That means we look like missing out on the 2018 season. Lime mortar can only be laid when the temperature is at least 5 degrees so work can't take place in the winter.”

Andy Boddington has called for Ludlow Town Council to get on with things and employ a heritage specialist.

“The council has the money,” Andy Boddington said.

“Next year it will raise its precept by 24% bringing in an income of £451,000. It will also make a £41,000 raid on reserves. This is despite it underspending by £86,000 this financial year. I sure it will underspend again in 2017/18.

“Ludlow councillors should seize the opportunity of being a cash rich council."