Church can go

PLANS to demolish St Peter's Church, Punnetts Town, and replace it with a two bedroom chalet bungalow have been approved.

PLANS to demolish St Peter's Church, Punnetts Town, and replace it with a two bedroom chalet bungalow have been approved.

Churchwarden Mr Petley told Wealden's development control south sub-committee 'We have three churches in Heathfield and we're very strapped for cash. We've got to spend about 52,000 on restoration works at All Saints Church.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'Some local residents seem to think that it's a great shame to sell a church, but this one was only ever used by three people in Punnett's Town. There is now only one remaining member who wants to see it sold for the good of All Saints. The Church itself desperately needs to sell this property.'

Mr Moore, the new development's architect said the site was the second largest in North Street and the footprint of the new development would be exactly over that of the old church.

But Mr Morgan a resident of North Street said: 'This development is most definitely not suitable for the area. It's not in keeping with the local area or neighbouring buildings.'

He said neighbouring homes would be overlooked and there would be considerable noise and traffic increases.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'There was one incident recently where an ambulance was unable to get to a property in North Street because it was blocked off by the cars parked on both sides of the road,' he said.

And another North Street resident, Mr Franklin, said: 'We moved to the area because it is one of outstanding natural beauty.' He was worried about a precedent being set for further development.

Objections to the plan had also been received from Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council and from the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

But Cllr Barbara Clark (Waldron) said she saw no objections to the application. Members agreed and the plan was approved.

Related topics: