Objectors raise noise and traffic concerns over proposed Cunningsburgh church
A NEW church in Cunningsburgh would have a “significant impact” on the health and lives of nearby elderly residents, an objection to the plans has claimed.
Two people in the area have formally objected to the plans from The United Free Church of Scotland to erect a new church and parking on a plot of grass at Flanderstown in the village.
The church – which already meets at a building in Cunningsburgh – said it was being “constrained” by the small size of its current property earlier this month.
The church said the empty plot at Flanderstown had “good access” and would allow them to develop a space more suited to the needs of the church and wider community.
But two Cunningsburgh residents have since objected to the plans, with one objecting on the grounds of lighting, noise pollution, traffic movement and access.
In their submission to Shetland Islands Council, they said the residents living across from the proposed site are “elderly and disabled” and claimed that the new church “would have a significant impact on their health, home and lives.”.
“The junction turning into the residential road is already busy and can be dangerous due to a turn in the road, the junction being at the top of a hill, and two bus stops on either side of the road, as well as this area being used as a vital school crossing zone,” they wrote.
“This building would also significantly impact the amount of light going to houses opposite, especially in winter as the landscape to the west/south-west completely blocks sunlight.”
They also said that they were a neighbour of the proposed planning site, but had only found out about the development through a Shetland News article on 16 July.
“As far as I am aware, none of the other residents of this area that will be significantly affected have been notified at all,” they added at the time.
Another Cunningsburgh resident also objected on the grounds that the construction process could “seriously inconvenience traffic going to and from the school”.
They added it “could make things very difficult for the residents of Dandigarth and Midgarth, many of whom have mobility issues”.
“The noise of the process which, I understand, would involve modification of the road to provide access to the site, would be excessive,” they continue.
“Traffic problems would inevitably ensue on an already busy main road.”
Shetland Islands Council said that one other person had written to the planning department neither in support or against the development.
Their submission said that it could benefit congestion issues in Cunningsburgh if the new church’s parking area could be used outwith church functions.
In a submission to planners from Blueprint Architecture, The United Free Church of Scotland said it could currently only fit around 40 people in for breakfast when set up as a café.
“Weekly we have to reconfigure seating etc to suit the event planned and stack chairs/tables not in use, with storage being fairly limited,” it said.
“We are now the only church in the village and the building is being used for purposes other than Sunday worship alone. We are providing space for community involvement and expanding on that.
“The access to our existing premises is at a road junction with very poor visibility, and due to the lack of parking, along with the constrained space, it was agreed to look for a new site.”
The church said the Flanderstown site would “allow us to grow our existing food ministry with a better café space to use for breakfast church services, and other event”.
“We plan to grow our community use for things like drop in coffee afternoons, children’s clubs etc.”
Blueprint Architecture said that the new building would be just 220 metres south of their existing church, and would have more parking space.
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