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Fury over plan to put glass roof on Abbey

Controversial plans to build a glass roof over the cloister of historic Paisley Abbey have sparked an unholy row.

The Paisley Daily Express can reveal church bosses are considering extending the abbey’s shop and cafe into an open-air space and covering it with the see-through structure.

But the proposals have been condemned by Paisley’s internationally-renowned neo-classical sculptor Sandy Stoddart, who claims it would be akin to turning the sacred building into a "den of thieves".

And he has vowed never again to attend any service, concert or function within the abbey as long as the plan remains on the table.

In a letter to the Abbey’s session clerk, I. Wallace Neil, Mr Stoddart blasted: "I believe the design to be cynical, philistine and positively counter-scriptural."

The Reverend Alan Birss, minister of Paisley Abbey, confirmed a number of proposals are being considered to make greater use of the Place of Paisley for community activities and tourism.

He said: "No decisions have yet been made and we are still at the feasibility stage of the entire scheme."

Full story at Paisley Daily Express.