(Please delete if already posted)
Church hopes dashed
14 December 2006
Members of a Jehovah's Witness congregation faced what they saw as yet another knock-back of their plans for a new church hall on Thursday.
Fakenham Jehovah's Witnesses hope to build a new Kingdom Hall on an out-of-town industrial estate to replace their present hall, which has become unsuitable because of poor access for elderly and disabled people.
But, after looking at 44 other sites in and around Fakenham, their second set of plans at the Agri Park at Helhoughton Road were again deemed unsuitable - unless the applicants could persuade Norfolk County Council, by December 29, to let them create a footpath towards the town centre.
The plans had been recommended for refusal by planning officers.
Philip Conway, the group's agent, said Thursday's offer by North Norfolk District Council's planning committee was as good as refusing the plans and that the congregation would not even use such a path if it was built as they mainly drove to meetings.
“They are really just fobbing them off,” he said. “It is a helpful suggestion - but giving us until the end of December will not be enough.”
He said they would not be able to get a legal agreement from the council by that time and that they would not be able to afford it.
Trustees have tried to make improvements to the existing hall but they were not possible and other sites they have looked at are mostly too expensive or already have permission for homes to be built.
Nevada-