Volunteers' concerns for future of landmark

FRIENDS OF MOUNTNESSING WINDMILL SAY THEY NEED HELP TO MAINTAIN IT

- By PIERS MEYLER

A GROUP of volunteers looking after an historic windmill dating back to the beginning of the 19th century could gain greater control over the Mountnessing landmark as part of local government reform in Essex.

But chairman of the Friends of Mountnessing Windmill, Karl Afteni, said he was concerned that the financial risk could be too great without the backing of a major authority.

He added that whichever organisations take over the responsibility of historic buildings need to be properly considered while local government reorganisation is taking place ahead of the dissolution of the Essex County Council in 2028.