Eyesore worries over new church
PLANS for a 200-seat auditorium in the heart of an historic town have come under fire over concerns it could become an eyesore.
Emsworth Baptist Church has submitted 2m plans to transform its site in North Street by replacing the existing hall with a new church building.
While Emsworth Residents' Association has welcomed the proposal, it has likened the exterior designs to an industrial site.
Situated on the A259 roundabout, it would be many visitors' first impression of the town.
Chairman Lorraine Clode said: 'The wall that faces the roundabout is quite forbidding and looks rather industrial.
'Something should be done to break up that wall. It's the difficult balance between blending with the current street scene and striking out to give us something that fits functional need as well.
'It's difficult to pull off and I don't believe they have done it.'
Councillor David Guest, who heads sustainable development in Havant borough, said: 'It's a very prominent corner site which I think deserves a landmark building design - something which people can immediately recognise and enjoy for many years.'
The development would include a church hall, new kitchen, and a cafe.
The 200-seat auditorium would open up to a further 100 people by folding the partition to the adjacent hall.
The plans will be voted on by councillors in the coming weeks.
The Rev Dane Baker said: 'The application did focus people's attention and some concerns were raised as well as support expressed.
'All of these concerns have been passed on to the architect - Haverstock Associates - who have been praised in the quality of their work.
'All the way through the design process we've kept in mind that we're just over the road from the conservation area and are working hard on the desire that has been expressed to link North Street and South over the roundabout.
'It's clear that the detailing and the quality of the work will be important in making it attractive - and this is what the church wants to do.'
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Friday 25 May 2012
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