Planners reject church demolition

CELIA WIGG Controversial proposals to demolish a Roman Catholic church to make way for housing have been recommended for refusal by South Norfolk planners.

CELIA WIGG

Controversial proposals to demolish a Roman Catholic church to make way for housing have been recom-mended for refusal by South Norfolk planners.

Under the proposals, the Holy Trinity RC Church at Diss would be knocked down and replaced with 11 three-bedroom homes.

The building at Stanley Road was put up as a temporary measure in 1952 and extended in 1999.

Church officials are now looking to sell the building for redevelopment, and relocate to a green field site at nearby Roydon. The move has been prompted by a decline in the number of clergy, which means more worshippers will be attend-ing a reduced number of services.

However, some members of the congregation oppose the plans, as previously reported in the EDP. Diss and Roydon parish councils both object, and planning officials at South Norfolk Council share their views.

One of the main concerns is the impact the new housing would have on the character of the surrounding area.

Objectors say the develop-ment will erode the gap between Diss and Roydon, that the lane is too narrow and will not be able to cope with additional traffic.

South Norfolk's south-west area planning committee has been recommended to reject both schemes at its meeting on Tuesday.