PLANS have been submitted for a new parish hall to create much-needed modern facilities for a 'thriving church community' in Malmesbury.
An application has been submitted to demolish outbuildings - including a club room and garages - in St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church's courtyard in Cross Hayes Lane, Malmesbury to make way for a more accessible hall.
The application states that the current club room is not fit for purpose due to its size and recurring damp issues and also adds that the community would benefit from a purpose-built venue for additional functions outside of worship services.
Suggested activities that could take place inside the proposed hall include youth group meetings, children’s liturgy sessions, finance committee meetings, parish seminars and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions.
The planning statement submitted to Wiltshire Council by the church in November states: "St Aldhelm’s has a thriving church community, which would benefit from a purpose-built venue for additional functions outside of worship services.
"The old outbuildings within the courtyard to the west of the church are not fit for purpose and do not make best use of the space available.
"A new parish hall with modern facilities would enable the church congregation to meet in large and small groups, and also welcome visitors from the wider community of Malmesbury to enjoy social activities on a regular basis."
The planning statement describes the current club room as uncomfortable, poorly lit and in desperate need of modernisation.
Wiltshire-based architect company Chedburn Codd has submitted drawings of what the ground floor could look like, which include space for around 60 seats, a modern kitchen and two accessible toilets.
The drawings of the first floor encompass a smaller meeting room, a parish office and space for storage.
Proposed materials for the parish hall include natural slate roof tiles with lead ridge and hips, exposed timber lintels and coursed squared rubble stone walls.
The design statement's conclusion states: "The proposals to equip St Aldhelm’s with a new parish hall and associated facilities to replace the existing outbuildings are considered a much better use of the space available within the courtyard, for both church community gatherings, and also wider community interaction.
"The new building respects the historically significant features and settings of the church, the presbytery, the stone boundary wall, and also the more extensive streetscape of Cross Hayes itself."
A fundraising team has been appointed to raise money for this project and plan to fund it through various sources including donors, parish fundraising and grants.
Wiltshire Council was due to issue a decision notice about these plans on Monday, January 15 but is still yet to do so.
When contacted by the Standard the council was unable to provide a new date of when the decision will be made.
To view the full application visit tinyurl.com/59x87nuk
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