Paris: As the French government prepares to begin reconstruction reconstruction work on the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral, over 1,100 architects and heritage experts have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to take the necessary time to ensure adequate measures are taken.
In a column published by French newspaper Le Figaro Monday, they urge Macron to "let historians and experts have the time for diagnosis before deciding on the future of the monument."
They call for a well-considered, thoughtful and ethical approach and warn against a "political agenda" based on speed.
France's government last week presented a bill aimed at speeding up the reconstruction of Notre Dame that would allow workers to skip some ordinary renovation procedures.
Macron has set a goal of rebuilding the cathedral in just five years, which some experts consider simply impossible to achieve.
Professional mountain climbers last week installed synthetic, waterproof tarps over the gutted, exposed exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral, as authorities raced to prevent further damage ahead of storms that were rolling in toward Paris.
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Parts of the cathedral, including its partially-destroyed vaulted ceiling, had already been soaked with water after firefighters desperately fought the blaze for over 12 hours that day.
Notre Dame's vaulted ceiling was also badly damaged after the cathedral's 19th-century spire burnt up and collapsed.
