Approval for St Mary's new look

A MODERN £1.5m face-lift for St Mary's Church, Loughton, could get underway as soon as January after district councillors gave extension plans the green light.

Up to 100 supporters of the scheme, who packed the last district area plans committee meeting, cheered as councillors dismissed concerns over noise and light pollution and the impact of alterations on a landmark Victorian building to approve the scheme by seven votes to two.

Councillor Gavin Stollar said: "The benefits to the community must be weighed against the design guidelines and I really do believe that all things considered this will have a positive contribution."

The existing High Road church hall will be demolished and replaced by car parking. A new two-storey extension providing halls and facilities will built on the other side of the church to the hall and a single-storey cloister and inviting entrance will be wrapped round the front of the church. Some residents expressed concern over the "out-of-keeping" glass, sandstone blocks and dark blue panels to be used in the new extension and the increased light and noise the large windows for facilities which are expected to house daily playgroups and evening activities would create for residents who back on to the site.

St Mary's vicar Rev Alan Comfort said the development was necessary to "move the church into the 21st century".

He said: "Change is hard but that doesn't mean it's always wrong. We want to be a church that welcomes the community in, to create facilities that people can use seven days a week."

Reacting to the decision, he said: "I'm absolutely delighted. We've been working towards this since I came to St Mary's two years ago. Now we hope to start building by the middle of January."

The church has already raised more than 60 per cent of the funds it needs for the project.