Three West Cumbrian sites are classed as at risk by Historic England.

Cleator Moor conservation area, plus the churches of Our Lady and St Michael’s in Workington and St Mary’s in Gilcrux have been officially added to the annual Heritage at Risk Register 2019.

This shows an annual snapshot of England’s most valued historic places, and those most at risk of being lost.

The Cleator Moor conservation area includes the formal square on which stands the library, the former council offices and the town council office, built in red sandstone, and the more recently constructed Civic Hall.

Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “We acknowledge that work is needed to enhance and preserve Cleator Moor’s conservation area, and we are proactively working with partners and building owners in the town to secure these improvements.

“We recently submitted a grant application for Cleator Moor to the Government and Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone, which would have helped us target some of the issues, but we were disappointed this application was unsuccessful.

“However, we will soon be invited to bid on Cleator Moor’s behalf for up to £25million from the Government’s Towns Fund, which would have a significant positive impact on the conservation area and the town as a whole.

“Additionally, through our successful Pride of Place town centre regeneration scheme, a number of business premises in Cleator Moor have accessed our grant funding for shopfront improvements that have included new paintwork, windows, doors and signage.

“Businesses owners were able to access our grants of up to £5,000 by committing at least the same amount of their own funds in match-funding. This project has secured more than £50,000 investment in the town, and we currently are working towards the next phase of this scheme which is public realm improvements, for which our funding has already been committed.”

The Grade II* listed church of St Mary in Gilcrux and the church of Our Lady and St Michael’s, the attached steps, walls, gates and gatepiers in Banklands, Workington, have also been added to the register.

Our Lady and St Michael’s church has formed The Workington Stella Maris Project Group, chaired by John Garner, to try and raise funds to repair serious problems to the structure that were found due to a survey.

Allerdale Councillor for St John’s ward Councillor Paul Scott, said: “No one likes to see these places put at risk. From a community point of view it is devastating and I’m disappointed to hear this.”

The vicar of St Mary’s church, Reverend Canon Tim Herbert, said: “Issues with dry rot and the roof at the church came to light about 18 months ago and a public meeting was held about 12 months ago. The problem is that the church needs £140,000 to sort out the issues.”

He said they are currently discussing the situation with architects and advisers so that they can look into possible grants or funding, as trying to raise that sort of money with Gilcrux’s population is going to be very difficult.

There will be a live music and pie and peas event on Saturday to raise money for the church. Decadian, will be playing at Gilcrux Village Hall from 7pm. Tickets at £7.50, from Helen Johnson on 016973 21895.