Published: November 13, 2008
Rocks thrown through windows of former church hall in Burnham-On-Sea

A former church hall in Burnham-On-Sea has been attacked by vandals this week, putting pressure on district councillors to approve plans to demolish the building and replace it with a new block of flats.

Rocks have been thrown through the windows of St Peter's Hall in Highbridge Road, leaving several large panes of glass smashed, as pictured here.

Town councillor Arthur Thorogood, whose council ward covers the hall, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It's a great shame to see what used to be a nice building in such a state. Any vandalism is bad, but when it's directed at a hall like this it's particularly sad."

Reverend Tibor Szende of Burnham Catholic Church, which is located on the other side of Highbridge Road, added: "It is a shame to see the property like this, whether it's being used or not."

"Many people hope the plans to replace it with new flats will quickly move ahead."

However, plans to replace the hall with a new block of 14 flats were given a 'thumbs down' by town councillors last month.

Raglan Homes applied for planning permission earlier this year to knock down the property in order to create the new development.

In September, town councillors raised several concerns about the height of the proposed development and its 'out-of-character' appearance with surrounding properties.

The developer altered its scheme with a revised application to address some of the concerns - but they didn't go far enough for some town councillors.

Burnham and Highbridge Town Council's Planning Applications Committee recommended that the scheme should not get approval when Sedgemoor District Council's Development Control Committee makes a final decision on the plans during the next few weeks.