A CHURCH hall in Ipswich may be demolished to build houses, it emerged today.

A CHURCH hall in Ipswich may be demolished to build houses, it emerged today.

The hall at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Bramford Lane has suffered from a lack of investment during the last 20 years.

Now the parochial church council has applied for planning permission to replace it with three homes to sell and invest cash into a new community space in the church itself.

Currently the church hall is used by a playgroup, toddler group, Slimming World, WeightWatchers, the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.

But Father Paul Bourner from the church said all the groups except the playgroup would be able to use the church instead. And the playgroup will retain its link to the church, but run from a different location.

Fr Bourner said: “I think it is positive. The hall would need considerable investment which should have been done 20 years ago.

“One has to go and one has to move forward. It will mean that the church building is secure and the facilities are improved. It will be a big step forward for the church.”

If it is given the go-ahead the church hall will be demolished and replaced with one two-bedroom home and two three-bedroom homes.

And to lessen to blow of the loss of the church hall the church itself will be improved.

The north aisle has been allocated to provide free-standing storage units, and there will also be a disabled toilet built, new kitchen space and a secure play area.

Will you be upset to see the church hall go? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.