Setting up an access platform is usually straightforward.

Clear gutters and downpipes are the sign of a well looked-after church.

How GutterClear works

GutterClear is based on the principle that "prevention is better than cure"

It's usually disastrous to wait until you know you have a problem before calling in help, because the damage has already been done.

So once you join the scheme, we start visiting your church regularly; as often as you wish. It isn't a service you call out once you know you have a maintenance problem. This service tries to prevent such problems.

The Diocese has engaged experienced contractors to carry out the visits. What happens is this:

• at your request, our contractor makes a preliminary visit to assess the scale of the job, the access method and any unusual health & safety issues
• the Diocese sends you a quote resulting from the preliminary visit
• you decide whether to accept it; if you do, there's a simple agreement to sign
• the Contractors then arrange the visit
• they clean out all your downpipes and gutters and note any obvious problems on a checklist
• the Diocese then sends you and your architect before and after photos and the checklist
• you pay the bill and you can apply for a grant to refund the VAT if your church is eligible
• we visit again as often as you believe is necessary. The price stays the same, subject only to inflation adjustment

A similar scheme (for Church of England churches only) has been in operation in London since November 2006. You can read more about it here.

The contractor may use a powered access platform or "cherry picker", or ladders, or a combination, and if necessary will assess how to get the machine to the relevant spots in the churchyard. It is often unnecessary to use the interior of the church for access.

We encourage churches to use the maintenance visit to enable their inspecting architect to visit the gutters to assess their condition once cleared out. This will be particularly useful for CofE churches having their Quinquennial Inspection soon. If more extensive access is needed than is necessary for the GutterClear visit, parishes should ask the contractor to quote for the additional expense involved.

You can also ask the contractor to quote for clearing gutters on other buildings such as church halls, and for SmartWater to be applied to vulnerable materials such as lead, during the visit.. Read more about it here.

What the contractors won't do is:

• carry out repairs: but they will tell you and your architect of any obvious defects via the checklist
• unblock underground drains: this can need careful specialised diagnosis