A CHURCH minister claimed a police official made “insulting and prejudicial” comments about plans to turn a former York pub into a church.

The Rev Graham Hutchinson, Pastor of Elim Pentecostal Church, and the vicar of Clifton the Reverend David Casswell, are unhappy with North Yorkshire Police’s response to a planning application by The Living Word Church for the Fossway pub, in Huntington Road.

Traffic management officer Steve Burrell, commenting on concerns the church might increase on-street parking and congestion in the area, said in a letter to City of York Council: “My research suggests that The Living Word Church is not a ‘mainstream’ church, such as the Church of England, and is therefore unlikely to appeal to large portions of the local residents living in the area.

“The congregation is more likely to be attracted from further afield and therefore the motor car is likely to be the choice or only practical means of transport.”

Mr Hutchinson, a former senior magistrate and co-chairman of One Voice York, a network of churches and church leaders that organises events in the city, said he had been upset at the ‘“prejudicial language” used when referring to churches like his.

He said: “Mr Burrell’s statement is insulting to all Pentecostal churches. It is a discriminating and an outrageous thing to say. Would he say the same thing about Islam should a planning application be submitted for a mosque? What if my church submits a planning application in the future – will we too be the victim of such prejudice?”

He said he had tried to complain to the force’s professional standards department, but it had refused to take it on board because he was not personally affected.

Mr Casswell, also co-chairman of One Voice York, said it was wrong to suggest the church would not be trying to attract local people.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed the force had received an “expression of concern” relating to a planning application for the former Fossway.

A spokesman said: “The Force can further confirm that no complaint against police has been recorded in respect of this matter at this time.”