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Anger as PCC push on with Ford House sale

Chris Morris
12/ 3/2008

THE LAST-gasp efforts to save Ford House look set to fail after it was revealed a sale is being finalised.

The buyer, believed to be a Prestbury resident, is currently in informal talks with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) about purchasing the property.

It is, however, to be stipulated that the completion of the sale cannot go ahead until after six months, in line with the agreement between the PCC and the groups scrambling to rescue the Prestbury centre.

Reverend Patrick Angier said: "If they (the group trying to save Ford House) raise the money they can buy it. At any point between now and in six months they can purchase it.

"We can’t guarantee where the market will be in six months, so we had to reduce the risk and the cost to the church. We are sacrificing £1,500 a week in interest.

"We need to put it on the back burner, we should concentrate on all of the special events over Easter, and put our energy into what is really important, celebrating the Christian faith."

It is unclear as to who the potential buyer is and what their plans for Ford House are, although rumours persist it is a man currently building a significant property portfolio within the village.

But the hotly contested issue still remains emotionally charged.

The exact future remains unknown and the community hub still rests in property limbo, but it seems that it will finally be resolved within six months.

David Hine, chairman of the Save Ford House Group, feels that the people of Prestbury have been given a raw deal and is extremely disappointed by the news.

He said: "We can’t raise the funds to save it, we wanted the church to keep it and we would raise the funds to pay for the refurbishment."

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