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Search the Public Notice PortalA Hereford councillor says a modern church in the city should stay, not be pulled down to make way for a care home.
Heritage Manor Ltd is seeking planning permission to replace the 1980s-built St Barnabas Church off Venn’s Lane in the north of the city.
But Frank Cornthwaite, member for neighbouring Holmer ward and also a trustee of the local Oasis Church group which previously leased the building, said it “was very handy for the neighbourhood”.
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“But in the 14 months since it closed, no one has been allowed in,” he said.
Oasis had allowed four other Christian fellowships to also use the building. And while Oasis has since found other premises, he still believes St Barnabas “should be retained as a community facility”
And he claimed that Church Commissioners, responsible for the Church of England’s estate, had ignored the many local objections to the disposal of the church during a consultation.
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Asked about this, a Church spokesperson said: “While there were a significant number of objections against the proposals for St Barnabas, the Commissioners decided that the scheme should go ahead as the disposal would further the mission of the Church.”
Proceeds from the sale “would help sustain ministry within the diocese”, while the redevelopment “would help create more care home facilities which were needed in the local area”, they added.
Nearby couple Elizabeth and Alan Taylor have also objected to the size of the proposed home, as well as the “inadequate” 18 car parking spaces planned alongside it, which Mr Taylor claimed would “cause excessive and unnecessary parking in surrounding streets”, and called for new double yellow lines to prevent this.
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Coun Ben Proctor, who represents College ward in which the church lies, said: “I'm sad that they decided to close the church, but I am happier that it will now become a care home”.
He said the neighbouring Newstead Nursing Home, also run by Heritage Manor, “are excellent neighbours”, while a new care facility “is something we desperately need, and won’t cause noise or traffic issues”.
But he acknowledged there “isn’t much community space in north Hereford”.
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