St Paul's chancellor Canon Dr Giles Fraser resigns

[Are_grits_groceries]

Dr Fraser, who has been sympathetic to the protest camp, said on Twitter: "It is with great regret and sadness that I have handed in my notice at St Paul's Cathedral."

The Dean of St Paul's, the Right Reverend Graeme Knowles, said he was "sorry to see him go".

St Paul's, which closed last week, could reopen to the public on Friday.

Differences over the handling of the protest are thought to have prompted his decision, says the BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott.

The cathedral was shut over fears of "significant issues" with health and safety concerning the Occupy London Stock Exchange (OLSX) camp.

'Radical figure'
When it was first set up, Canon Fraser said he was happy for the demonstrators to stay and asked police to scale back their presence.

He has refused to sanction the use of force to remove the protesters as pressure mounts on the cathedral to join in legal action against them, considering it a resigning matter, our correspondent said.

It is understood that Canon Fraser considered his position untenable.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15472362

He fights the good fight!!!

[dipsydoodle]

1. Daily Telegraph link

Dr Fraser's decision is believed to be based on differences among senior officials at St Paul's over the handling of the protest.

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While St Paul's is due to reopen today, Dr Fraser is said to be against the plans by the Corporation of London to take legal action to remove the protesters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8852310/Dr-Giles-Fraser-resigns-from-St-Pauls.html

and the Guardian :

Speculation grew in the last 24 hours that Fraser, a leading leftwing voice in the Church of England, would resign because he could not sanction the use of police or bailiffs against the hundreds of activists who have set up camp in the grounds of the cathedral in the last fortnight.

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City of London corporation, the effective local authority for the square mile, is due to hold a meeting today to discuss plans for any eviction. A formal meeting will take place on Friday, when the corporation's planning and transportation committee considers advice on how to resolve the deadlock between activists and assorted authorities and institutions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/27/st-pauls-cathedral-canon-resigns?newsfeed=true

btw - the other camp at Finsbury Square isn't City of London : its London Borough of Islington. City of London Corporation has no jurisdiction there.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Cid_B]

3. This is the problem...

... they are denying the public the ability to appreciate that and other public spaces.

I always go to St. Paul when I am in London and to have it shut down for a bunch of people camping on its steps is ridiculous.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Its not only that

The church yard I would assume belongs to the church - the pavement outside doesn't and its more likely the pavement which is at issue.

His resignation appears to have been foreseen given how quickly it was accepted. I'm wondering if he was lent on.

[dipsydoodle]

6. The pavement issue relates to this

Under the 1980 Highways Act a licence is required to place tables and chairs on the public highway or City Walkway. Interested parties must submit an application to the City of London, who assess the suitability of the site against specific criteria. These include pavement width, access for people with disabilities, existing fire escape routes, refuse disposal, and noise and disturbance levels.

The licence is valid for one year. Please allow a minimum of three months to process the application, for both new licences and for renewals.

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Any structure, scaffold or hoarding that is erected on the public highway must have a licence. The conditions under which each licence is granted can only be agreed at a site meeting. Through this website you can arrange for a site meeting with an officer from the highways section of the Department of Environmental Services.

In total, allow two weeks for arranging a site meeting, completion of the application form, supplying payment, and processing of the application.

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Transport_and_streets/Roads_highways_and_pavements/highways_online.htm

[Laelth]

5. k&r for Dr. Giles Fraser. n/t

-Laelth