A CHURCH has been refused permission to take over a former industrial building surrounded by homes.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God had hoped to get planning permission for the Royal Oak Works in Northumberland Close, Northumberland Heath, which it has been using for the past 18 months.

But the church is reached via a narrow access way between the houses in Northumberland Close and has less than a handful of parking spaces.

Residents told last week’s planning committee they were already plagued by parked cars because of the nearby shops.

They said they could not cope with more cars from the church’s 48-strong congregation, nor its noisy church services.

One resident, Jane Salter, claimed on one Sunday last summer her husband had to walk over to the church and ask them to keep the noise down.

Councillors said the parking and the noise would be unacceptable in a residential area and they turned down the application.