PLANS for a new church in Romsey have had more than 40 supporting comments.

Senior leader of Freedom Church, Sim Dendy, has applied for planning permission for a church and community hub on a field near the Esso garage in Greatbridge Road.

The proposal includes a prayer space, landscaped gardens and car parking.

Test Valley Borough Council has received 41 supporting and two objecting comments.

Philomena Freeman, of Church Lane in Romsey, said: “I fully support this application as it will benefit the local community. The building will provide a permanent location for the foodbank and many other community projects. Also the need for community and worship spaces will only increase due to the growing population of the local area.”

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Chris Honour, of Hill View Road, Braishfield, said: “I fully support this application due to the positive impact on the local community. The building will provide a permanent location for much needed foodbank, CAP debt advice centre and has the potential to a hub for many more community projects.”

Naamah Maundrell, of Winchester Road, said: “With new houses being built and the population of Romsey increasing it would be amazing to increase the number of community spaces and places of worship.

“Having attended various groups associated with Freedom Church - for example the weekly child/toddler group - it has been such a support to meet others in the community at the same stage of life and I hope that can continue in a permanent building.”

Objector Robert Dalton, of Priestlands, said: “I object to this project as there has been far too much development around Romsey and especially into the Test Valley. 

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“The plot chosen is prime grazing meadow and could either be kept as agricultural land or used as allotments for Romsey's increasing population.

“There is no need for further places of worship in Romsey and according to the 2021 census religious identification in the Test Valley has dropped significantly in the last 10 years, which would suggest an opportunity for sharing facilities with other religious organisations in Romsey.”

Romsey and District Society's planning committee said the location may not be suitable.

A comment said: “As it stands the facility is going to be located on the north west edge of town making it very demanding on pedestrians needing to use the food bank. It is a long walk carrying supplies from Abbotswood, Tadburn or King’s Chase. From a planning strategy aspect this facility will be in the wrong place.”

To view the plans online, search 23/00340/FULLS on Test Valley Borough Council's planning portal.