A CARDIGAN church faces a planning battle as it tries to re-home its growing congregation in a former call centre.

Rev Rob Filgate of Mount Zion Baptist Church has applied for planning permission to change the use of Unit 7 on Parc Teifi on the outskirts of the town, with the current church on Priory Street now not big enough to house everyone who attends its services.

The plans have been recommended for refusal by planning officers, who say there is “not enough evidence” that the large retail unit – which has laid empty for nearly four years – is not needed in Cardigan, and that the change of use would harm employment opportunities in the town.

Development Control Committee members, meeting on Wednesday, decided to send a delegation of members to inspect the site before making a final decision.

Rev Filgate, in his application statement, said the congregation at Mount Zion “have outgrown their current location.”

“Mount Zion Baptist Church is growing and the current building will soon not be able to accommodate the increased congregation,” he said.

“People require the provision of employment, education and health care but it is of paramount importance that the spiritual needs of people are also catered for. Unit 7 at Parc Teifi has the capacity as a meeting place to fulfil that need.

“It is of the right size, has good facilities and is easily accessible. Its change of use to a place of worship will give it a new lease of life and on that basis permission should be granted.”

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