Wyke Regis: All Saints churchyard bench taped off in protest

As previously reported, frustrated homeowner Paul Whittle, who has lived on Portland Road in Wyke Regis, Weymouth for the past 23 years, raised concerns over a the wall in his garden.

Mr Whittle, 79, claims that the wall, which is shared with neighbouring All Saints’ churchyard, has been in an increasingly poor state, with fears it could eventually collapse into his garden if nothing is done to fix the issue.

Paul Whittle (Image: Paul Whittle) Now, in his own form of protest, Mr Whittle has responded to a lack of action over the issue by taping off a bench in the churchyard that he replaced for £400 11 years ago when his wife, Hazel, passed away. Mr Whittle has been routinely maintaining the bench on the site.

He said: “In utter frustration with the management of All Saints, I unscrewed my wife’s plaque and placed it in the church offertory plate a few weeks ago, expecting a reaction of some sort from the Rector or Church Warden and received nothing.”

Two other plaques are displayed on the bench, which Mr Whittle agreed to, when the bench was replaced.

“In one more increasing desperate attempt to get the decaying wall repaired, and in protest of the ongoing complete indifference to my welfare displayed by my neighbour, I have taped off the bench I paid for and have maintained for the past eleven years and placed a notice which reads:

Paul Whittle next to the crack on his side of the wall (Image: Lewis Eyre) ‘Your neighbour paid for and has maintained this bench for the past 11 years.

‘Your neighbour has supported All Saints' for 22 years.

‘Your church refuses to care about/support the welfare of your neighbour.’

Claiming that the condition of the wall is worsening, Mr Whittle added: “I have, almost from the start of the matter, sprayed any sign of plants growing between the wall’s brickwork with weed killer. This growth is most obviously damaging the wall.

“More recently, I have cut the trunk of the large and ever increasing in size bush. This has hopefully stopped the bush from forcing the already cracked brickwork asunder such that the 10ft wall would have eventually collapsed into my garden.”

Mr Whittle has also offered to pay for any repairs to the wall. 

The wall from Mr Whittle's garden (Image: Lewis Eyre) Speaking about how the condition of the wall has impacted on Mr Whittle’s own health, he said: “Over the past year or so, I have lost some two stone in weight. This may be due to constant worry the issue causes me which has not been helped by the slow, painful, recent death of my 14-year-old dog."

Disputed for more than a year now, complications arose over responsibility for the wall with the church previously saying that it is the boundary of the churchyard under the Burial Act 1855. This means the maintenance and repair of churchyards and the boundaries fall to the local authority - Dorset Council.

Mr Whittle said that whilst he knows the wall is not about to collapse, he fears that the integrity could lead to other problems such as damp and mould, with the high wall in close proximity with his house.

Churchwarden Gary Hepburn previously said: “As previously explained by the church, the maintenance and repair of the boundary wall legally falls to the local authority (Dorset Council).”

In reaction to the bench being taped off, Mr Hepburn, said: "We have explained the situation in respect of this matter and we have nothing further to add."

Dorset Council have been approached for comment.