Cuts 'put nation's historic cathedrals at risk'

The warning came as Lincoln Cathedral launched a public campaign to raise 2.5m to fund badly needed restoration works to its west side.

It is 100 years since the two west facing turrets were restored and last winter's freezing weather has led to further decay and cracking in the stone work.

If the money is not raised, parts of the cathedral could be covered in netting to protect visitors from falling masonry.

The 1,000-year-old building, with annual running costs in excess of 4m, does not receive any money from Government and has instead relied heavily on a dedicated fund from English Heritage.

According to Roy Bentham, Lincoln Cathedral's chief executive, English Heritage has seen its funding from Government cut back and so the dedicated pot of money for cathedrals is no longer on offer.

This means the cathedral, which has up to 250,000 visitors a year, must apply for a money from a general pot.

Mr Bentham said: "We have a uniquely wonderful heritage in this country. I spend time in America and the people over there marvel at our heritage.

"It's a huge part of our culture and economy and it would be sad if these cuts were to diminish that. It would diminish our national identity and I believe there's a danger of that happening."

English Heritage says only six cathedrals – Lincoln, York, Salisbury, Canterbury, Chichester and Winchester – need to carry out major repairs in the next 10 years.

A spokeswoman admitted the ring-fenced fund for cathedrals had been stopped but said it gave Lincoln a 250,000 grant as recently as December and money was still available.

John Morris, Chapter Steward at the Minster, said: "York Minster has received grants in excess of 1.4m since 1991 from English Heritage – although it is not receiving any major funding at present from English Heritage.

"English Heritage is acutely aware of the risks from damage, decay or inappropriate change to England's heritage and is launching a Heritage at Risk Register 2010 on July 1 in an effort to focus support and resources on saving them.

"However, it is quite true to say that ring fenced funding for cathedrals has stopped although they are still able to apply to English Heritage for funding under other schemes.

"It is a major concern that Government has reduced its support for English Heritage and English Cathedrals will need to spend some 100m in the next 10 years. This is particularly difficult to fund in these economically challenged times."

Mr Bentham said English Heritage, which had provided the cathedral with about 3m in funding, had been sympathetic to its needs.

He added: "It's quite conceivable that the area of heritage could suffer badly in the cuts.

"You can see heritage as being a luxury item and therefore open to cuts or you can see it as being the bedrock of our country, a country with a unique and wonderful history.

"I would see it as the latter, as being extremely important, but clearly there is another argument that it is not so fundamental and so suitable for cuts."

It is also feared that if the work cannot be completed and has to be postponed it will cost an even greater amount in the future.

If the money is raised, work should start early next year on the 135ft, eight-sided turrets. It will take five years to complete.

The project will include either restoring or replacing 9ft statues of St Hugh of Avalon and the Swineherd of Stow, which sit on top of each of the turrets.