Maldon Heritage at Risk Register 2022 approved - including WW2 Dengie buildings over Bradwell B fears | Local News | News | Maldon Nub News

An updated register listing the Maldon district sites considered to be most at risk in 2022 has been approved by councillors.

The Maldon District Heritage at Risk Register 2022 has now been published on the Maldon District Council website, after the strategy and resources committee voted it through on Thursday (6 January).

Tim Howson, conservation officer at the council, said: "Among the new additions to the register are the locally-listed buildings in Bradwell-on-Sea, including the World War Two airfield buildings which are likely to be destroyed if the proposed power station goes ahead."

130 airmen killed in World War Two were based at RAF Bradwell Bay in Bradwell-on-Sea, which lies in the middle of where the new power station would be built.

China General Nuclear (CGN) and French energy giant EDF are partners in the Bradwell B Power Generation Company, which hopes to build the nuclear power station in the village.

Four blister hangars, the control tower, station HQ and Pear Tree Cottage at RAF Bradwell Bay have been named in the register as facing "demolition if the development goes ahead".

A spokesperson for the Bradwell B Power Generation Company said: "In all cases, prior to removal, they would be subject to appropriate investigation and recording of heritage features. Where practical we will protect heritage features – such as the RAF Bradwell Bay War Memorial, which we have already committed to retaining and enhancing.

"Our proposals are at an early stage and all feedback – both in our discussions with stakeholders and within the responses to previous and future public consultation – will be taken into account."

The tower near St Peter's Chapel in Bradwell-on-Sea has also been included in the register due to its "poor" condition.

It overlooks the Dengie Firing and Bombing Range, created in 1937, and is accompanied by the airfield which was redeveloped as RAF Bradwell Bay in 1941.

Mr Howson said the RAF Bradwell Bay Preservation Group has a meeting planned with the owner of the tower who "seems quite amenable to it being repaired, so fingers crossed".

Councillor Wendy Stamp praised the "excellent report" and said she is "pleased to see Burnham-on-Crouch has made it".

She pointed to the inclusion of the Burnham-on-Crouch Cemetery Chapel, which is listed as priority A on the register - meaning it is at "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration".

She said: "We know there is an issue with the roof and I don't know if that can be seen as a priority to get the roof mended because it is in a beautiful location.

"The gates are absolutely stunning and I think it could be looked at to be brought back into use, rather than it falling it to more decay."

Richard Holmes, director of service delivery and head of paid service at the council, said: "We'll work with Mr Howson to look at some options around that and that can come back to this committee."

In the report on the register, council officers said: "The primary aim of the register is to highlight the plight of these buildings to current owners and local communities and encourage immediate care and their future conservation."

Here's a full list of the sites named in the Heritage at Risk Register 2022: