Church group plans new hall

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

A CHURCH group wants to build a place of worship in the middle of a green area at Southill, Weymouth.

The trustees of the Weymouth Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses have applied for planning permission for the project on land near Southill Neighbourhood Centre off Radipole Lane.

They currently worship in Weymouth at a hall behind the Boot public house near Weymouth Fire Station.

They want to move and expand into a 2,200sq ft building which they hope to build on an open area at Southill.

Case officer Gerry Ivens Brown confirmed that details of the scheme had been sent to Weymouth and Portland planners.

He added: "This open space has always been reserved for community use and this sort of project would be in line with this overall use.

"I think the idea is that they will use the adjacent car park for congregations because it is a building which would largely be used outside peak shopping periods."

He said that the proposal is for a large brick-built hall with a main auditorium, two small meeting rooms, toilets and a utility room.

Trustees' agent Michael Jones said that the proposed building would take up about half the green open space between the shops and the post office on the opposite side of Radipole Lane.

He added: "Weymouth congregations for Jehovah's Witnesses average in excess of 100 people.

"They want to make the move because they find their current hall near the Boot public house to be inadequate in several respects for their purposes including size and layout.

"They hope to be able to tailor the new building more to their needs and, if planners give the project the go-ahead, then work for the new building is hoped to be finished in 2004-2005."

The application will now be considered by councillors and it is expected to go before the October 22 meeting of Weymouth and Portland planning and traffic committee.

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