RESIDENTS have hit out at plans to build a Christian meeting hall in Berkswell.
A planning application to demolish an existing industrial building and create a place of worship – dubbed a ‘meeting hall’ – with access off Duggins Lane has been handed to Solihull Council.
Documents created by Frampton Town Planning on behalf of the Coventry Gospel Hall Trust state the hall will be used by the Brethren Community for Christian worship.
It specifies there will be no secular or other activities taking part at the hall.
Documents state the meeting hall will be used for two services per week for prayer, bible readings and assembly and each service would last approximately one hour. Services will take place on Sunday mornings at 6am and Monday evenings at 7pm, and these would be attended by 30 to 50 people.
It added the hall would occasionally be used on Sunday afternoon or during the week, mainly for one off events such as services for a funeral.
The Brethren Community already has a meeting hall in Baginton, Coventry, and this site will be used as a satellite basis to respond to the geographical residence of communicants.
Developers say there will be 18 off street carparking spaces created with two widened for disabled spaces and one space with an electrical charging point.
There will also be eight cycle parking spaces on site.
Framptons said: “The proposed meeting hall will present a rural character with timber boarding and a profile sheet panel pitched roof. The meeting hall will take on the appearance of a typical rural building, with simple design characteristics in the rural location.
“It is considered that taken with landscaping to be provided, the openness of the Green Belt will not be harmed by this development, by reason of the spatial and visual impact.”
However, residents have raised concerns over plans to create a new entrance for the meeting hall.
Linda Beeson, spokesperson for the opposing group, said: “There is no mention of lighting which would be required in the winter in the car park and also at the entrance – if we are to believe there would be pedestrians and a new footway is expected, there would need to be lighting here also.
“The residents object to the proposal as it is believed that it will cause disruption and noise at an unacceptable time on a Sunday morning and also a Monday evening.”
Solihull Council said the application is not on the agenda for planning committee at the moment and will only be added once outstanding matters are resolved.
