An historic church in Calne is set to be demolished and replaced after plans were narrowly approved at a planning meeting marked by strong opposition from residents.
Calne Baptist Church on Castle Street will be replaced with a new building after councillors voted in favour of the proposal at a meeting on 26th April 2023, with the committee chair casting the deciding vote.
Parts of the existing church date back to 1817, but it is not a listed building due to later modern extensions.
The approved plans include a new church building around one metre taller than the current structure, with seating for 150 people, fewer than at present. A new café will be attached, along with new toilet facilities.
Several residents spoke against the proposals, raising concerns about noise, smells, privacy and parking. One resident became too emotional to read her own statement, which was instead read out by a neighbour.
Her statement said the proposed outside toilet could cause “lingering, disgusting smells” affecting nearby homes, and that the development would harm the peace and tranquillity of the area.
“I moved here for a quieter home,” the statement read. “My property will be devalued because it will lose its peace and tranquillity. I wake up with nightmares of seeing the place I know not there.”
She also raised concerns about privacy, saying people using the café would be able to see into her garden, and warned that food waste could attract pests.
Parking was another major concern, with residents arguing that the number of comments supporting the plans suggested high usage, while only 20 parking spaces would be available. Objections were also raised over the loss of a historic building and the potential impact of construction work on nearby walls.
Despite the objections, the application was approved after Councillor Tony Trotman, chair of the planning committee, cast the deciding vote, saying he believed the plans looked “exciting”.
A council report supporting the application said the development would provide larger and higher-quality community spaces, including a café, toilets, improved parking provision, cycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.
Applicants had warned that if the plans were refused, the church may need to find a new place of worship, and councillors were told that any future redevelopment of the site could potentially have a greater impact.
