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Tue 13th May 2008
	11:00	A Few Small Steps
	11:30	Just The 21 Of Us
	12:00	Charge
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Save Walsall Church

It was in the last century that a group of residents from Walsall's Butts area first tried to get some answers about the future of the dilapidated church on the corner of Butts Road and Lichfield Road.

Six years later after a hard slog, the Hatherton Community Group, are making significant progress in a campaign to save the church and improve the area.

Follow the campaign through a monthly online videoblog.

Our first video gives an outline of our story so far - how the church fell into disrepair and why we believe it should be returned to Hatherton Community.

In our second video we ask local people what should be done with the church.

And read our weblog on BBC Action Network here:

Damage inside and out

More About Save Walsall Church

The church is a listed building which means it is a criminal offence to damage it, let alone knock it down. It was the centre of the community, but was affected by limestone infilling and declared unsafe in 1990. It was officially closed in 1995-96.

In March 2006, 750 people from the Butts area signed a petition. To get this number of signatures just from those living within 500 yards of the church was described as a 'resounding demonstration of the community's wishes'.

Campaigners outside the church

There has been a lengthy and messy legal dispute between the church, contractor, consultant and the council. The church was ransacked of pews and anything of value. However, the community which had paid for the building originally has been left for nearly 15 years with nothing but a derelict hulk in a dangerous state.

Now change is in the air! Visit our website.

Last Updated ( Friday, 25 May 2007 )

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