Protest at plan for new rectory

Church plans for a new rectory and two other houses in a village near Kidderminster have prompted a storm of protest.

Residents claim the proposals will destroy the character of the area, lead to road safety dangers and infringe on some people's privacy.

Land around the present rectory should be used for organisations such as the Cubs, Beavers Church fetes or even allotments, they claim.

They are concerned that the Diocese has not revealed its plans for the existing rectory and fear a further planning application could be submitted for more development on the site.

Protestors last night successfully persuaded members of Wyre Forest District Council's planning development control committee to visit the site before making any decision on the scheme.

The Diocese of Worcester has applied to build the new rectory and two other houses to the rear of Mill Lane.

But villagers say a covenant states the land should be used for a parsonage. More than 17 villagers packed the public gallery and heard their spokesman, Mark Johnson, say many residents of Mill Close were "strongly opposed" to the scheme.