'Such a shame'- Residents react to controversial plans to turn Fylde coast church into supermarket
Fylde coasters have had their say on plans to turn a beloved church in Cleveleys into a supermarket.
Campaigners Ian French and Mark Butcher have set up a petition to try and stop Cleveleys United Reformed Church from being bulldozed after a planning application was lodged with Wyre Council back in February. So far it has almost 1,350 names.
Current plans are to turn the chapel site- which is no longer in use- into a food and convenience store. Residents from across the Fylde coast have now had their say on the controversial plans.
One concerned local said: “Cleveleys high Str is struggling as it is, with Marks & Spencer’s relocating & Poundland the Halifax & other shops being empty , The old church should be repurposed & they should go on the main high Street.”
Another questioned: “Can't they just convert the inside to a shop and leave the building as it is? One woman added: “If nobody's using the church why not, but more supermarkets take people away from the Highstreet.
“People no longer use the Church but then complain when they sell them and repurpose them,” another added. One man, unimpressed with the plans, said: “It should remain a church or similar Christian mission. Such a shame.”
One person offered some suggestions for different plans. He said that the church would work better as ‘a soup kitchen, or maybe a pizza place’.
The plans will be decided upon by Wyre Council and a decision will be made in due course.