Congregations plan make-overs for town Bishop's Stortford churches

Two Bishop's Stortford churches are getting ready for transformations.

The Methodist Church in South Street wants to reconfigure its entrance to make the place of worship more suitable for disabled members of the congregation.

At the United Reformed Church in Water Lane, plans for a new piazza with outdoor cafe area and two-storey side extension have already won praise from the town council for the quality of the design.

The Methodist application to East Herts Council explains: "The main focus of these proposed alterations is to improve accessibility throughout the building, to all areas, with improved accessible facilities to bring them into line with current standards, including a changing places toilet facility, driven by a recognised need in the church community, with several members who are reliant on the use of a wheelchair for mobility."

The church intends to create a single level throughout the building: "This results in the side hall becoming the hub of the building from which other spaces are accessed. The ancillary toilet and kitchen facilities are all to be relocated to the rear of the side hall, creating new much improved accessible facilities."

As part of the proposals, the "fussy" frontage of the foyer will be made more inviting.

At the United Reformed Church, internal changes will create a hub, open to the community.

The existing kitchen will also be enlarged and a new servery formed with further space created in a two-storey extension.

The application to East Herts says: "A new paved public space will be created in front of the Church building responding to the townscape vision set out in the Old River Lane

development proposal.

"This is created by removing the existing front boundary walls and hedge screen, maintaining the existing brick piers and ramped vehicular access. The whole area will be paved to signify pedestrian access whilst enable a drop off facility and emergency vehicle access.

"The intention is to create a public piazza which will be used by the church, facilitated by the access provided by the glazed entrance doors created as part of the new addition. It is intended that this area will be used for family activities and an outdoor café space."