Plan Statement

The Courthouse Kirk Michel. In support of my application for consent I would like to remove the entrance room west side window and temporarily board up the opening. The bottom rail and the lower of the left hand stile (viewed from outside) are decayed due to water ingress from a lack of maintenance. A previous repair was attempted by filling the rotten void with expanding foam. Due to them being of mortice and tenon construction and the rot in the bottom rail being extensive I feel it would be wise to remove the window and have the decayed sections replaced. Once repairs are complete the window will be refitted. The Main room roof trusses require attention, see pictures “Main Room Truss 1-4” the lower horizontal member is sagging an estimated 3 inch, the joints to the vertical members have opened with the tenon being withdrawn from the mortice. In order to affect a repair as the ceiling is beyond a state where a repair could be attempted, it would be beneficial to remove the ceiling. The benefit this brings are the ceiling requires replacement due to decay of the timber lath and joists due to water ingress see pictures “main room 1-6”. Once removed this would permit adequate access to the trusses to affect a repair. The Entrance room roof is in danger of collapse, with reference to pictures “entrance roof void 1-4”, the top abutment wall plate timber requires replacement due to decay from long term water ingress. In its current state it is no longer a single member. As this wall plate has questionable load bearing capability it seems prudent to remove the decayed ceiling so that adequate access to the roof timbers can be gained and propped, so that the slate roof covering can be removed safely. The top abutment wall plate can then be replaced, the rafters made good as required and the original slate covering be refitted. Yours sincerely S. M. Cochran 18/11/2021