Town councillors object to meeting hall scheme (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Town councillors object to meeting hall scheme

STOW Town Council has expressed its opposition to plans by the town's Plymouth Brethren to build nine homes at their base on Well Lane.

Acting on behalf of the religious group, the Stow Room Trust has applied to Cotswold District Council for outline planning permission to demolish the Brethren meeting hall and build seven houses on the site.

The proposal also includes plans to build two further houses in the gardens of Brethren-owned cottages on Chapel Street.

Chairman of the town council's planning committee, Tom Morris, said members had expressed opposition to the application.

He said they agreed with a number of householders in neighbouring Oddfellows Row who feared the homes would generate extra traffic and noise.

"The block of houses they intend to put directly opposite Oddfellows Row comes right up against the road to Well Lane," he said. "We have recommended that the block of seven houses be reduced to five."

In its submission to the district council's planning committee, the Stow Room Trust has indicated that the hall has become too small for the Brethren's meeting, which attract congregations of up to 150 people.

Objections from the town council and nearby residents will be considered by Cotswold District Council's planning committee when they rule on the application next month.

Last year committee members refused an application from the Brethren to build a bigger hall at Longborough due to fears that it would cause traffic problems in the village.