CHARITIES are no longer be able to use St Martin-cum-Gregory Church, in Micklegate, as a sales venue (March 6). The reason given is the unsafe condition of the wiring.
Quite rightly, the safety of those who use the building must be considered. However, once again we would appear to have a situation where the decision has been made that because there is a risk to safety the event cannot be allowed to continue.
The Christian Aid shop committee chairman, as a person who would be suitably qualified, has volunteered to do rewiring to make the wiring safe. This has been rejected.
The building will no doubt fall into further decline and become another neglected eyesore in the centre of York.
There has to be some acceptance of risk and all aspects of the situation should be considered. A risk assessment when properly conducted would consider what level of lighting would be required to allow events to continue, would consider the standard of any work that was undertaken and the operation of any new wiring, including presence of flammable material and isolation of the system when the building was vacant.
Such a structured and rational approach would allow the continued use of the building with minimum risk to all involved. Until we start to take such an approach, we will find ourselves increasingly restricted in all our activities, allowing others to make all the decisions for us.
With the motto of the supermarkets to mind: "when it's gone, it's gone".
Stephen von Bertele,
The Green,
York.
Updated: 10:37 Wednesday, March 12, 2003
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