Decision delayed in Selby church site fight

3:40pm Thursday 24th July 2008

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SELBY councillors have postponed a planning decision that could see one of the town’s few remaining churches pulled down.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds has entered plans for the demolition of St Patrick’s Church, in Petre Avenue, and its replacement with five two-storey houses. Planning officers have recommended permission be granted.

Almost 100 residents on the Abbot’s Road estate have signed a petition against the application.

They say they are in opposition to “any development of the site and its surrounding land for housing, commercial or industrial use”.

They want to see the building used as a community centre for local youngsters. Councillors now want to visit the site before making a decision on the scheme.

Coun Doreen Davies, district councillor for the ward and local resident, has previously said a community centre should be opened at the disused church, which held its last Mass more than two years ago.

“We’ve been trying to get funding to buy St Patrick’s and open it as a community centre for the kids,” she said.

“We’ve been desperately trying to get something for the children on the estate, but we’re fighting an uphill battle.”

But Coun Thurlow, district council chairman and former Catholic priest, said the diocese, as a charity, was charged with disposing of the land in the most profitable way.

“I’ve been working for quite some time with the residents’ association in Abbot’s Road to get some agreement with the diocese in Leeds to get the place available as a youth centre,” he said.

“But unfortunately, the Diocese of Leeds has to, under charity laws, get the best possible price for the site. That’s why we’re in this position now. The best possible price is got by putting in this application.”

He said it was a shame the building could not have been used as a community centre.