WORK is due to start on the old Hoddam Church to stabilise the ruin.
An update from the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland was this week shared on the Ecclefechan Community Project Facebook page after a resident contacted them.
In response, they explained what has been going at the site near Hoddam Cross.
Church of Scotland health, safety and risk manager Mo D’souli said: “The property was deemed unsafe following a visit to the site late last year and immediate steps were taken to ensure that access was secured around the perimeter of the ruined building.
“Due to the heritage and historical nature of the building we have been in correspondence with the HES in respect of what would be deemed acceptable in terms of permissions and the works required. This process has taken a little longer than expected.”
The Church now has a scope of works and costings from a heritage stonemason and are preparing to start the ‘necessary sympathetic’ repairs and stabilisation works in the next four to eight works.
It will include removing invasive trees, as well as vegetation, which have planted themselves in fabric of the old church walls and are destabilising the structure.
