Religious group seeks to useold grain store for meetings

CHURCH group The Exclusive Brethren has applied to turn an empty agricultural building on the edge of Rotherham into a Gospel Hall.

Members of the religious group, of which there are more than 40,000 worldwide, separate themselves from other Christians and also shun “the conduits of evil communications” such as television, radio and the internet.

Brethren members in south-east Rotherham have applied to Rotherham Council to use a former grain store close to Croft House in York Lane, Morthen, near to the intersection of the M1 and M18 motorways.

Although the building is in green belt land and therefore developing it would usually be against planning policy, planning officers at Rotherham Council have recommended the application should be granted when it goes before councillors at a meeting tomorrow.

The officers say that converting the building to a Gospel Hall “would not form inappropriate development in this green belt location” and “would not result in any increase in harm to the open character or visual amenity” of the area.

They also welcome the fact that converting the building would prevent Brethren members from having to travel to existing Gospel Halls in either Moorgate, Rotherham, or Carterknowle Road, Sheffield - bringing about a reduction in travel of 7,000 kilometres a year.