Community centre plans for vacant Lincoln Greyfriars museum postponed

A final decision on plans to allow the Greyfriars museum to become a community centre run by the Lincoln Diocese has been delayed.

Lincoln Greyfriars, thought to be the oldest Franciscan friary in the country, has been vacant for the last eight years.

Under the new proposals, neighbouring St Swithin’s Church will look to secure the friary’s future and to build on the community work it is doing.

However, the diocese has decided to defer its proposal to City of Lincoln Council until it has discussed the plans with its own committee in December.

Angela Andrews, Chief Executive for City of Lincoln Council, said: “The Diocese have been in contact to say they would wish to consider the details of the proposed lease further as this isn’t going to their committee until December 9, so the intention is to take this to each respective committee at a more aligned time.”

A spokesperson from the Diocese of Lincoln said: “Greyfriars is a significant heritage building, and it is very important that all the elements of any proposal are carefully considered.

“We have decided to defer our proposal to the council in order to give all parties the opportunity to consider the implications and opportunities in greater detail.”

Councillors agreed the sale of Greyfriars in July in order to save annual running costs amounting to £4,000.

Leasing it would save the council an estimated £750,000 which is needed to make Greyfriars fit for purpose.

Birchwood Big Local delay approved

Photo: Google Earth

Councillors also approved granting additional time for a Lincoln community group to come up with proposals for green spaces in Birchwood at the meeting at City Hall on October 26.

Birchwood Big Local Group was allocated £1 million back in 2012 as part of a lottery-funded initiative to spend on community projects over a 10-year-period.

The group was given one year by the city council to present detailed proposals in September 2014 but the plans have not yet been fully finalised.

The deadline for detailed plans to be submitted has now been extended to January 31, 2016.