A 153-YEAR-OLD Glasgow church spire might need rebuilding after it was partially demolished without planning permission.
The structure at Maryhill High Church is now encased with scaffolding until Glasgow City Council decides what to do.
The church in Sandbank Street, which is a C Listed building, was converted into a single house and nursery after the congregation merged with nearby Maryhill Old Church to form Maryhill Parish Church in 1998.
Retrospective planning permission to partially demolish the steeple has been applied for by Helen Daly.
Barrhead-based JLS Design Services is acting as an agent on behalf of Mrs Daly.
Despite repeated requests, no one at JLS was prepared to comment on the case and Mrs Daly was unavailable for comment.
The council's planning committee could now force Mrs Daly to have the spire reinstated to its former condition.
The Evening Times learned that the owner had part of the spire removed, believing it to be structurally unsound.
But Glasgow City Council enforcement officers brought the demolition to a halt when they discovered what was happening.
Mrs Daly is thought to want more of the spire taken down to bring it to a safe level, but must support her application with more expert, technical evidence.
Councillor Alex Dingwall, a Liberal Democrat member for Maryhill, said: "Everything possible should be done to retain the steeple and restore it to its original state.
"The steeple has been there for more than 150 years and the church is a part of the area's heritage.
"During the war some of the people injured by German bombing were looked after in the church hall, and, while it is not used as a church any more, it is important to the area.
"I'm extremely concerned demolition went ahead without the owner discussing it with the council or Historic Scotland."
A Historic Scotland spokesman for said: "Glasgow City Council is investigating the issue and we will be happy to advise on options for the building."
The planning committee will consider the retrospective application about mid-May.
A spokesman said: "We have received an application and will consider what action to take in due course."
stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk