Brethren withdraw appeal against Stow gospel hall refusal (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Brethren withdraw appeal against Stow gospel hall refusal

10:05am Thursday 4th June 2009 in Cotswolds By Simon Crump

A RELIGIOUS group has withdrawn its appeal against a refusal to approve its controversial proposal to build a gospel hall at Stow.

Stow Gospel Hall Trust appealed to the government after Cotswold District Council refused its application for permission to construct the 1,639-square-metre building on agricultural land north of Tesco’s Fosseway store.

The Plymouth Brethren Evangelical Christian movement wanted to use the hall, which would have been up to eight metres high, seated up to 700 people and boasted 81 car parking spaces.

The council received a petition signed by 445 people objecting on the grounds that the site’s development should benefit the entire community and not be exclusively for a small group.

The council also received 54 letters from people citing 22 objections.

Intensification of traffic at the junction between the Fosseway and Tesco’s entrance, requiring the construction of a bypass road, was among their objections.

They also claimed the site was outside Stow’s development boundary, a precedent could have been set for development in surrounding countryside and existing hall facilities were adequate for the applicant’s needs.

The council received 42 letters giving 16 reasons for supporting the application, one of which included loss of business to Stow because Plymouth Brethren-run local businesses would be forced to relocate elsewhere if the plan was refused.

They also claimed the application would improve the site’s unkempt appearance, an inconspicuous design would blend the building into the countryside and the hall’s users would improve Stow’s prosperity by spending money in local shops.

Council planning officer, Mike Napper, recommended approval on the grounds the hall would have no “significant material effect”.

But the committee refused it on the grounds it would be too big for its rural setting and would not benefit the community enough.

The Brethren said they appealed soon afterwards in order to meet the appeal deadline and keep their options open.

But this week they withdrew their application and began seeking an alternative site in recognition that they are part of a wider community.

Their spokesman said: “We are most grateful to Stow Town Council and to those who have supported us over the last two years in progressing our application for a new, modern hall.“