Bid to turn bowling green into religious building

Ford Parish Council is objecting to plans for the site off the A458

A former village bowling green could be converted into a religious building.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church wants to build a meeting hall and car park on the site in Ford, next to the A458 near Shrewsbury.

A house is also proposed for the land, which has not been used as a bowling green for several years.

Both planning applications are set to be considered by Shropshire Council after Ford Parish Council objected to them.

'Sole use'

Planning permission was previously granted for two homes on the site, with a planning officer recommending the latest proposals should be approved too.

Ford Parish Council has raised concerns including the site being "open countryside", as well as more cars pulling out on the A458 were the hall to be built.

It said the main road "suffers from speeding traffic and dangerous driving."

The church states the hall would be for its sole use for prayer and bible readings, with services for up to 35 people.

There would be two services per week on a Sunday and Monday, with "occasional meetings" between those times.

Eighteen parking spaces are planned for the site, with the church stating that lifts would be shared within family units.

The proposed access arrangements were "acceptable," and a "satisfactory level" of parking was being provided, said Shropshire Council’s highways department.

“The applicant believes that church and meeting halls are a sacrosanct place where only religious activities should take place," stated the planning officer, and existing venues were not suitable or available.

The plans will be considered by the council’s southern planning committee on 20 February.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.