A HYDE church could disappear from the landscape if planning permission is granted.
Roy Miller, of Innovated Properties Ltd, has applied to Tameside Council for prior approval to knock down Gee Cross Methodist, on Stockport Road.
And documents supporting it state that while the area will not be developed after it is brought down, it has to happen.
They say: “In its current condition, the building serves no public benefit and increasingly poses a risk due to its degradation.
“Its contribution to the character of Gee Cross is outweighed by its structural degradation, lack of viable reuse and the public benefit of clearing and restoring the site.”
Gee Cross Methodist Church was founded in 1882 and stands on land which was once part of Ralph Fold.
Originally, Stockport Road Wesleyan Methodist Church, when the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Joel Lane closed in 1969, the two congregations merged as Gee Cross Methodists Church.
It is also home to a plaque remembering the late Private Norman Stafford of the 7th Welsh Fusiliers, who died at Port Said on October 25, 1919.
However, it ceased active religious use some time ago and has remained vacant since.
And documents added: “While familiar to local residents, its architectural merit is modest.
“The building has been subject to neglect, and its condition has deteriorated significantly, as evidenced by recent structural assessments and photographic documentation.
“The building has no strong historical or communal associations beyond its former use as a place of worship.”
Community fears over what would happen to the site appear to have been eased with a description if demolition is granted.
The applicant says measures will be put in place to prevent fly-tipping, unauthorised access, and health/safety risks and avoid visual blight by keeping the site clean and level.
It would also retain the site’s openness until long-term redevelopment is planned, adding: “We have engaged constructively with the local planning authority and responded to community concerns regarding the future of the site.”
Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.