Latest news with #communityfacility
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans to turn former Weybridge cinema into church approved
Plans to convert a former 1920s cinema in Surrey into a modern church venue have been approved. Elmbridge Borough Council sold Weybridge Hall to Equippers Church for £1.2m in Church Street venue, which has been empty since 2014, includes a vacant shop and community hall on the ground floor and a vacant four-bedroom flat across the second and third of the council approved an application to turn it into a community facility, primarily for religious gatherings on Tuesday, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Equippers Church hopes to revamp the venue into an auditorium of around 400 seats, with kitchen space near the foyer. The proposals also include additional meeting rooms on the first, second and third floors for community and religious permission had previously been granted to turn the site into a cinema with flats above it, but the council said the development "never materialised".Speaking on behalf of residents on Minorca Road running directly beside the hall, Kath Wallace said the proposal will significantly and negatively impact on residents from a noise disturbance, parking and traffic said noise conditions have been recommended as the sound insulation was labelled as inadequate to modern standards. Paul Utley, speaking for the applicant, said it is "really important to us to be good neighbours" and "be an asset to the community". Councillor Judy Sarsbury says the high street "needs rejuvenation" and that Weybridge "needs the building to come alive again" to attract more people. The scheme received around 32 letters of objection, with those against arguing it should be a space that benefits the whole of Weybridge or should be used as a theatre of cinema. No theatre or performing arts group had offered to buy the building, the council said.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former 1920s cinema could become church venue
A former 1920s cinema, which has been empty since 2014, could be turned into a church venue. Elmbridge Borough Council sold Weybridge Hall to Equippers Church for £1.2m in November. On Tuesday, the planning committee at Elmbridge will decide an application to turn it into a community facility, primarily for religious gatherings. Council officers have said permission should be granted. The venue, in Church Street, Weybridge in Surrey, had previously been granted permission to become a cinema with flats above it but the council said the development "never materialised". Currently, the building includes a vacant shop and community hall on the ground floor and a vacant four-bedroom flat across the second and third floors. Meeting documents said that under the plans the main auditorium could be used by local schools and community groups when not in use by the church and multi-purpose studios on the upper floors would be available to hire. The application received 32 letters of objection, many of which said there were other religious venues in the area and that the building should be used for the benefit of the community of Weybridge as a whole. At the time of agreeing the sale in November, the council said Equippers Church would "preserve the historical essence of Weybridge Hall" and "breathe new life into the building". The council said no offer to buy the building was received from a theatre or arts group. Among the objections to the current application was that a cinema, theatre or youth group would be preferable to the church proposal. According to its website, Equippers Church is a global movement of local churches across 16 countries. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. New library and community hub to open in summer U-turn over concerts on Thames private island Office block to make way for new 70-bed care home Elmbridge Borough Council
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Former 1920s cinema Weybridge Hall could become Equippers Church
A former 1920s cinema, which has been empty since 2014, could be turned into a church Borough Council sold Weybridge Hall to Equippers Church for £1.2m in Tuesday, the planning committee at Elmbridge will decide an application to turn it into a community facility, primarily for religious officers have said permission should be granted. The venue, in Church Street, Weybridge in Surrey, had previously been granted permission to become a cinema with flats above it but the council said the development "never materialised".Currently, the building includes a vacant shop and community hall on the ground floor and a vacant four-bedroom flat across the second and third floors. Meeting documents said that under the plans the main auditorium could be used by local schools and community groups when not in use by the church and multi-purpose studios on the upper floors would be available to application received 32 letters of objection, many of which said there were other religious venues in the area and that the building should be used for the benefit of the community of Weybridge as a whole. At the time of agreeing the sale in November, the council said Equippers Church would "preserve the historical essence of Weybridge Hall" and "breathe new life into the building".The council said no offer to buy the building was received from a theatre or arts the objections to the current application was that a cinema, theatre or youth group would be preferable to the church to its website, Equippers Church is a global movement of local churches across 16 countries.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Demolition and redevelopment of Rotherham youth hub proposed
Plans have been submitted for the demolition of a youth club in Kimberworth, to make way for a new, purpose-built youth and community application to the council proposes the demolition of the existing building on Baring Road, home to the Rotherham Blackburn Club for Young its place, the new building would provide a more modern and flexible space for local youth and community public consultation for the application runs until 19 June. The existing clubhouse is still in regular use, operating three evenings a week for young people aged eight to 18, offering activities such as sports, cooking, arts, and educational programmes, said the Local Democracy Reporting has been a part of the community since 1974, and has recently secured grants to expand its services, introduce mental health support, and involve older youths through volunteering opportunities. The proposed redevelopment would see the youth club expand its internal floorspace by 43%.Submitted by architects Corstorphine and Wright on behalf of the group, the project includes a main hall, youth rooms, an outdoor patio area, improved accessibility via a ramp and staircase, and secure plant and bin new design would use modular construction methods to reduce disruption and build time, meaning components will be constructed off-site, then transported for the building would be clad in timber-effect materials with black aluminium windows and doors, and a flat single-ply shrubbery would be planted to promote biodiversity.A total of 10 new cycle spaces would be added, and regular daytime and evening activity is expected to contribute to overall site would continue to maintain four part-time staff roles. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Traffic concerns over plan to convert club into 'community and prayer facility'
Concerns have been expressed over a planning application to turn a members' club into a 'community and prayer facility'. The Tyseley and Hay Mills Liberal Democrat group is strongly opposing proposals to convert the Scanlon's Club on Spring Road, Tyseley, for religious use. The application did not give any details on parking or management, leading to fears about traffic particularly during the school rush. READ MORE: Driver mowed down three women - causing mum to lose leg - after basic error in new electric BMW READ MORE: Akhmed Yakoob profiled as lawyer who says 'defence for every offence' charged with money laundering READ MORE: Mountain of bins bags as locals complain of weeks of missed collections The group urged anyone with worries to submit them to birmingham-city-council>Birmingham City Council before May 30. The group said: " A planning application has been submitted (2025/01386/PA) to convert the former Scanlon's Club to "Community and Prayer Facilities". Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox "The planning application says this would operate between 5am and midnight, seven days a week. "The application also says no changes will be made in terms of access to the site and no parking will be provided. "We are very concerned about the potential impact of this proposed development on traffic on Spring Road and the knock on impact on residents and groups, such as the local 260th Scouts (who are based to the rear of Scanlon's) and anyone using the Spring Road / Shaftmoor Lane / Olton Boulevard East / Summer Road junction. "This is a very busy area and becomes very heavily congested at the start and end of the school day with parents dropping off children at the local girls grammar school. "Scanlon's didn't have much impact as it tended to operate in the evenings however this new use would be during the day and would likely be very busy at prayer times, especially on Fridays. "There is no statement on the planning application saying how the use of the facility would be managed and how traffic issues would be mitigated so one can only assume this has not been considered." A decision on the application will be made in the near future.
