A CATHOLIC bishop has been accused of going back on his word after refusing Aberystwyth Town Council access to demolition-threatened St Winefride’s Church so an independent survey can be carried out.

Bishop of Menevia, Tom Burns, agreed that the town council could carry out an independent survey of the closed church on Queen’s Road when he met with councillors last month.

Councillors were told at a meeting last Monday by clerk Gweneira Raw-Rees that a surveyor had been found and was ready to proceed, but that the council had not heard back from the diocese about access.

Now, the council has been told that its surveyor will not be granted access.

A town council statement, issued by mayor Cllr Brendan Somers said: “It is very disappointing that the Bishop of Menevia has gone back on his word to allow a town council-led independent survey to take place, and to allow access to the church for such a survey.

“In light of the strong difference of opinion between parishioners who want to retain a renovated St Winefride’s in the town centre and the diocese in Swansea, who want to demolish St Winefride’s, the bishop agreed to a survey of St Winefride’s Church in order to ascertain its true condition, as long as the town council to the lead in organising such a survey.”

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