CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new Baptist Church Centre and house for a minister on land at Ridgley Road in Chiddingfold have been thrown out by Waverley Borough Council. If the proposals had been given the green light the main church part of the centre would have included an assembly area and a baptismal pool with seating for over 200 people. The centre would also have had a crèche, two meeting rooms, a kitchen, office, plant room, counselling room and male, female and disabled toilets and showers. Parking for 21 vehicles would have been provided with a nearby doctors surgery car park available out of surgery hours. The Coombe Lane recreation ground car park could also have been used during the week and a secure cycle parking area would also have been provided. The application also proposed building, in front of the church building, a two-storey house with four bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, lounge and study with two parking spaces. The plans have divided the village, with Waverley Borough Council receiving 50 letters of objection and 60 letters of support for the scheme. Objectors said the village did not need a new church at the expense of Green Belt land and claimed the proposals would benefit a small number of villagers. Other objections included concerns over parking and traffic along Ridgley Road, setting a precedent for the area and questioning whether there was a genuine need for the facilities. Objectors also argued many supporters of the scheme did not live in the village and would not have to put up with negatives aspects of the application. Supporters of the plans claimed the proposals would support the whole village community and not just those attending the Baptist Church. They believe the church has outgrown its current premises and needs the new buildings to continue to develop and said the application would be totally in keeping with the area. Supporters also claimed the current chapel was inadequate for the needs of the church and did not have enough parking. They argued the main use of the church would be on Sundays and this would mean the proposals would not have a major impact on traffic. Chiddingfold Baptist Church claimed 99 per cent of people who responded to its survey were in favour of the plans.
