ARCHIVED - Firemen called in to deal with falling masonry from Murcia Cathedral
Pieces have fallen off the front of the Baroque Cathedral several times in the last few months
Members of the regional fire service were called to secure the front of Murcia Cathedral yet again on Thursday when loose masonry fell off the Baroque building into the Plaza Belluga below.
Fortunately the Semana Santa processions which would normally guarantee that the plaza is filled with thousands of spectators are not taking place this week, so there were no injuries.
Members of Cathedral staff assured agents of the Local Police that they are "waiting for the requested permit to be processed" in order to proceed with the necessary repairs to the crumbling masonry, insisting that they have been waiting for "six months"for the necessary administrative procedures to carry out repairs on a listed building to be concluded.
The Cathedral board is responsible for the maintenance of the building, and is willing to carry out the necessary repairs, but must work within the legislation relating to protected buildings and ensure that any repairs carried out are in keeping with the existing structure, a complicated procedure which takes time.
The area around the Cathedral in Plaza del Cardenal Belluga was cordoned off to permit firefighters to work without endangering the public, as they removed loose masonry and secured the areas in which the damage is most evident.