Britain has already seen climate protesters attack works of art, but their iconoclasm is not simply some outsider phenomenon.
King’s College Cambridge has been embroiled in a row over the installation of solar panels on its chapel roof which critics said would harm the “beauty of Cambridge’s finest building”.
The 15th-century late Gothic, Grade I-listed chapel overlooks the picturesque Backs and represents one of the most famous images of both the city and its university.
However, recent plans submitted by the college to install solar panels on its roof have provoked strong opposition from heritage organisations.
On Tuesday, Labour councillors went against guidance from planning officers to approve the college’s application to install 492 solar panels on the north and south sides of the 288ft-long roof.
Apparently the idea is to “send a message” to world leaders about the importance of installing such equipment elsewhere to combat “the greatest emergency we face”.
As combinations of stupidity and self-importance go, that takes some beating.
Or maybe I’m wrong, and Xi Jinping will be profoundly moved by this gesture and will proceed accordingly.
The Daily Telegraph:
Planning officers had advised that the proposals be refused because of the harm to the chapel’s appearance.
The planning officer’s report stated: “The proposal would create a radically different character and appearance than the traditional lead roof.
“It would visually detract from the architectural character of the roof and skyline, and be discordant with the architectural composition of this exceptional and historically iconic building.
“It would erode its authenticity and integrity. It would result in less than substantial harm… therefore the public benefits arising from the carbon reduction are not sufficient to outweigh the harm to the chapel.”
Predictably, the local ecclesiastical authorities also support the decision to add the solar panels.
As for the college’s provost:
Prof Michael Proctor, provost of King’s College, outlined the benefits at the meeting, saying: “In the context of the climate emergency, these measures are not merely beneficial but essential.”
He added that he saw the move as an “urgent and vital necessity” and it was just one of the measures being carried out at the college, including improving insulation.
“Essential.”
The border between fundamentalism and insanity is poorly policed.