Petition against plans for community classes at Hartlepool church

A decision is to be made by Hartlepool Borough Council Planning Committee on March 3 on plans to allow meeting rooms at St Luke’s Parish Centre, at St Luke’s Church, to be used for wider community and public use.

The plans submitted by Julia Taylor, churchwarden at the Tunstall Avenue site, gives examples the rooms could be used for slimming groups, adult training groups, children’s parties and keep fit groups.

Currently the rooms only have permission to be used in connection with worship and associated activities at the church, including scouts, girl guides and boys brigade meetings.

The rooms could previously be used by an art class and music school but permission for that was only given for one year, and later expired.

A total of six objections and a 22-signature petition have been submitted to the council ahead of a decision being made, raising concerns of parking and traffic issues, pedestrian safety and noise.

However a report from senior council planning officer Ryan Cowley is recommending the proposals are approved.

The application states rooms would be able to be used from 8am until 10pm.

She said: “Currently, apart from use as church meeting rooms and church coffee mornings, the main uses are as meeting rooms for youth and children’s groups and an art group.

“This will be extended to use by any group within the hours dictated, for example, slimming groups, adult training groups, children’s parties, keep fit groups etc.

“The impact on neighbours would be, as now, some participants being ‘dropped off’ to attend an event and others requiring parking of their own vehicle on roads in the immediate residential area.”

The plans include three meeting rooms which have the capacity for 85, 30, and 25 people respectively, and supporting facilities include toilets, a fully stocked kitchen and a storage area.

Objectors have submitted comments to the council over the impact on highway and pedestrian safety and noted frequently cars park over neighbouring driveways.

One Tunstall Avenue Resident said: “People using the premises have no consideration when parking across our drives, limiting access to entrance/exit from our properties parking on the footpaths.

“I want to relax on an evening after work, not [have] more disturbance from cars, doors, traffic congestion.”

Another added: “Whilst the intention to provide more community and public use is an admirable one, unfortunately the site is not fit for such purpose.

“There is very little parking available in the area which invariably leads to antisocial and dangerous practice.”

The council planning report notes although there are parking complaints in the area, it is not such an issue to warrant a ‘formal objection’ to the proposals.

It said: “The Council’s Highways, Traffic and Transport section has concluded that although there are some concerns the proposal to extend the activities at the church will further increase parking demand in Tunstall Avenue, it is not considered that this would be at such a level to warrant a formal objection.”