A PUBLIC meeting was held this week in a bid to alleviate residents’ concerns over plans to convert a church into assisted living apartments.

The Smithies Wesleyan Reform Church, on Wakefield Road, has been vacant for some time and last year went up for auction on the Mark Jenkinson and Co website where it was subsequently sold.

The main building dates from 1912 and the rear split-level former Sunday school building was built in 1932.

Plans were submitted to the council last June to convert the church building into ‘much-needed’ apartments.

When the plans went to public consultation, ten letters of objection were received.

Residents’ concerns ranged from highway safety, heritage concerns and the loss of a community facility.

However, the plans were given the green light earlier this week subject to a Section 106 agreement cash set aside by developers for local amenities which includes a contribution of £3,341 towards sustainable travel.

A public meeting was held at the church on Monday and led by Gurdip Singh, a property developer at applicant Cambridge Green, and local councillor Jayne Hulme.

More than 30 locals turned up to hear the plans for the church.

Councillor Hulme told the Chronicle that a further planning application is set to be put through the planning process to use the proposed flats in the church for assisted living.

She said: “I arranged the meeting after receiving numerous emails from concerns residents who were stating that church conversion was to be used for non-locals and that it would become a HMO.

“The planning application had been passed by the previous council and residents stated that all their concerns and objections had been ignored and they had not been listened to by the planning department.

“On arriving at the meeting, I was met by approximately 30 residents and the owner of the property Mr Singh, who had agreed to be at the meeting.

“I explained to the residents what the current situation was, that planning permission had been granted for 11 apartments, 11 parking spaces and a very sensitive conversion of the church.

“Residents all asked their questions and voiced their concerns, and Mr Singh was there to alleviate any concerns very well.

“Mr Singh is going to apply for change of use of the building, and apparently this is being discussed with service providers and possible housing associations who will be running the assisted living complex.

“The residents are more concerned about who will be in these apartments and Mr Singh stated that they will be occupied by local people who can be moved from unsuitable caring residences and given the freedom of their own independent living, with carers on site.

“Mr Singh will have to apply to change the usage and residents were happy that they could register any concerns and objections to the new planning application, which will take place in the coming months.”

Those at the meeting were told that the property would never be used to house any form or ‘dangerous tenant’ including those involved with ‘alcohol and drug abuse, asylum seekers or any ex-inmates or offenders’.

Coun Hulme added: “Overall, it was a reassuring meeting with the majority of the residents, who shook hands with me and Mr Singh, and thanked us for fully explaining the situation, something that had not been done previously.

“Residents will be able to register their continuing concerns when the new planning application takes place.

“I reassured residents that I will be here to support them, along with Mr Singh, with any concerns they may still have.”

CONCERNS: A public meeting was held on Monday. Picture: Rebecca Sills.