Despite continued attempts by the Exclusive Brethren to describe themselves as ‘evangelical christians’, they are finding that the truth behind their carefully obfuscated planning applications are increasingly being questioned.
Many see this as important progress in ensuring that the public become increasingly aware of the real nature of this modern day cult.
Christian hall plan for field turned down
Worcester News, UK
October 12th, 2009Plans to build a Christian gospel hall on a field at the city boundary have again been thrown out.
Worcester City Council planning committee were “minded to refuse” permission by a majority vote for the large hall which would be used by the evangelical Christian group the Brethren. Planning officers had recommended approval of the application on the 1.1 hectare site.
The group wants to buld a 25ft tall (8m) single-storey chapel with car parking on a field in Swinesherd Way, just by the Nunnery Way roundabout, to replace their current hall in Diglis Lane.
They argued the location of the Diglis site had made access difficult and had tried to design a new building “sympathetic” to the rural location. Councillors were given a demonstration of the Brethren’s current traffic diffuculties by a highways officer but were reminded to consider the application on “its own merits,” by the council’s legal adviser Doreen Porter.
Barry MacKenzie Williams said protecting the green area and rural “vista” on the city’s boundaries was too important to allow the development.
“I see no reason at all to breach our policy of protecting this area from development,” he told fellow planners. “I shall be voting against.”
When the plans last came to committee in September, councillors turned it down on grounds it would extend the city boundary and offer no new services to residents other than to Brethren church members.
Councillor Pat Agar said the fact the group were “relatively exclusive” should not count against their application.
The Brethren expected to use the chapel for about an hour daily – more on Sundays – for Bible, prayer and religious meetings and events.
Councillors agreed they were “minded to refuse” the application by eight votes, with four against.
Source: Worcester News – Christian hall plan for field turned down
In the town where I live, the Brethren apparently had a meeting room approved, by designating it as a ‘music practice centre’. This was duly approved, and much to the disgust of the neighbours, they discovered once built, it became a fully fleged meeting room, with all the usual trimmings. I know of at least one person compailing to the council, but it was too late.
These people are using all types of underhand tactics, as usual to get their way, but it does appear that finally, some of the authorities are at last waking up to them.
As their buildings are not open to the public, they should at least be paying rates on them.