SHAME ON YOU ANGLICAN CHURCH AND CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL

For agreeing to demolish the Anglican Cathedral Christchurch City Council and the Anglican Church should hang their heads in shame.  Despite the devastation wrought by the earthquakes, there were a number of buildings critical to what Christchurch is – the Anglican Cathedral was one of them.  Cities throughout history have shown how these valued parts of our past, destroyed by tragedy,  must, and can be re-built – even if it takes years to achieve.    Rather than rush in and demolish, or replace in a compromised way, they fenced off the treasures until they were able to rebuild them – as they were.

It can be done – and it is disingenuous to label it as Disney Land.  It has much more integrity, reflecting deeply held feelings for built heritage and human values.

I fear that the Church and Council have been hijacked by bureaucratic box tickers given authority they exercise within narrow definitions.  History, culture, heritage – don’t seem to rate compared with narrow code compliance, OSH and economics. 

The Church, the Council and committed individuals must stand up for the historic values of Christchurch – or stand condemned by the future.