A COLONIAL-style Chiddingfold Baptist church with white wooden boarding complete with a three-metre spire got the thumbs down from Waverley planners last week.
Waverley councillors agreed to the recommended refusal of the scheme, despite an offer from Chiddingfold Parish Council to reconsider its views on the plans and a letter from the applicant to say that the church had secured additional parking.
The decision by members of the southern area development control sub-committee last Wednesday followed a site visit to the church in Woodside Road.
Waverley planning officer Anne Wright told the meeting that it had received 22 letters of objection to the planning application and one one letter of support.
There was also a letter put on the table before the meeting by a close neighbour objecting to plans to extend the church.
Referring to a legal agreement concerning parking, Mrs Wright told the meeting that it would be left with a planning application subject to parking.
"There is too much uncertainty and the planning application should be as it stands with the recommendation," she said.
James Mackie agreed and said that with no off-street parking the highway authority was right to object.
David Munro, a substitute member of the committee, said although he did not attend the site visit ,he went to see the church he said it appeared as if the church weas squeezing a quart into a pint pot.
"I absolutely agree with the disadvantages it would cause to the neighbourhood."