No to new church (From Warrington Guardian)

No to new church

A GROUP of Christians called the Brethren have had their plans for a new church in Wistaston kicked out by planning chiefs.

The plans, submitted by Sefton Gospel Hall Trust, were for a single storey church and car parking on Gresty Lane.

The Brethren was started nearly 200 years ago by British evangelical Christians who wanted to return to the simplicity of church life in New Testament times and to obey the Bible in every area of life.

The applicants said that numbers of the Brethren were increasing in the area and that they had failed to find alternative premises.

The new church premises were earmarked for a strip of open greenfield land in Wistaston that adjoins the railway embankment to the rear.

But objections to the plans were made by both Wistaston and Rope parish councils, which insisted it was unsuitable for green gap land and added to traffic dangers on what was already a 'rat run'.

Recommending refusal, a council planning officer said: "It would harm the character and appearance of this countryside position by introducing a new building and significantly changing the appearance of the site and the narrow country lane from one which is rural in appearance to that which is urban in character.

"In winter months the site is clearly visible from the lane and the church, parked cars and fencing would be prominent from public viewpoints.

"Whilst there may be a small amount of unlawful tipping on the site this does not justify the proposed development.

"It is considered that the new church would not be justified as an exception to strict national and local policies that seek to protect the countryside and the green gap from encroachment.

"A church clearly could be located within existing urban areas and a rural location such as this is neither necessary or essential."

The planning application was refused at a meeting of the council's development control committee last Tuesday.