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Former seniors’ home to become a church

Plans to turn a former seniors’ home on Wreck Road into a worship centre have been approved by the Planning Board.The application was filed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Parking spaces for 20 cars and 30 cycles will be added to the property and the building’s covered patio and living room/dining room will be converted into a 60-seat sanctuary.Bedrooms in the building’s upper floors will be converted into classrooms and an office.The building has functioned as a residential senior’s home, day care and counselling centre but currently stands vacant and unused.The application, received on May 10, garnered around 20 objections, the majority of which expressed concern about traffic and parking matters.St James Church Rector, Archdeacon Arnold Hollis argued against more land being devoted to churches, saying the property could be better used as a seniors’ home given the Island’s ageing population.“If the church wants to do something noble, then it should be encouraged to transform this former senior citizens home into a model rest home for seniors in these Isles of rest,” Dr Hollis wrote.Noting the traffic concerns, the Development Applications Board found that the on-site parking would be acceptable given the number of seats in the church, and said that amendments to the plan, submitted September 27, alleviated some of the concerns.