THE owner of a former church which closed after 127 years of worship has been refused permission to change it into a home, with one councillor saying there wasn’t even room for a washing line.

Built in 1884, the final service took place at Worrall Hill United Reform Church in 2011, and planning permission was granted the following year to turn it into holiday let accommodation.

Owner Stephen Edwards of Brook House, Upper Lydbrook, applied earlier this year to turn it into a three-bedroom family home, claiming there was insufficient trade to operate it as a holiday let.

But Forest planners said no work had been done on converting it from its previous use as a chapel, causing its holiday permit to lapse, and it was unsuitable for full-time occupation.

Doreen Williams, who lives next door to the church, slammed “photographic evidence” from the applicant claiming that work had started, with a wall being built in the basement to support the floor.

“I can categorically state that no works of this type were undertaken by the applicant,” she told planners.

“There is no amenity space other than a narrow strip of land less than one metre wide running between the chapel and the road, and there is no parking space.

“The development would also need a septic tank (for sewage), but there is no space on the site.”

The owner said the chapel had a garden on the other side of the road, but planning councillors were told it was Forestry Commission land and wasn’t an acceptable amenity.

Planning officer Anna Walsh said: “It is clear that the permission granted on July 9, 2012, has not been implemented and has therefore expired.”

She said the applicant would need to make a new application to convert it from a “community facility” to a home.

And she added: “Given that this building does not have any garden space, this in itself would be a reason for refusal for such an application.“

Lydbrook parish council clerk Lorna Wakefeld told the planners: “To our knowledge no works have ever taken place to turn this into the holiday let.

“If this was permitted to be a permanent residential unit, then it would offer an extremely low level of amenity, there being no outside amenity space.

“It would also be dangerous as there is no parking and the property is very near the brow of the hill.”

Forest councillor Bruce Hogan (Lydbrook and Ruradean, Lab) said: “The chapel has no amenity space and would offer a very low standard of facilities to any future occupant. There is no space even for a washing line or for the provision of off-road parking.”