PEOPLE in Watlington have vowed to do anything possible to block church plans to build on a town beauty spot.

More than 80 people packed into the town hall on Wednesday night for a public meeting called by former parish council chairman Tim Horton.

He urged the Parochial Church Council of St Leonard’s Church to reconsider its plans to knock down the church hall and use land next to the churchyard for housing.

The church council says it needs to fund renovations to the 14th-century building, but residents claim the development will destroy the town’s conservation area. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Horton said: “I think there is scope for development at the church, but these plans are not it.

“If a single brick is placed in that area which does not belong to the church hall, we will lose every single benefit of the open space there.”

Under the plans, the land and building would be sold to the Diocese of Oxford, which would demolish the hall, build a new rectory and “one or two small houses”.

The scheme would keep 40 car parking spaces and include landscaping.

The town recently voted against the scheme in the Watlington Speaks consultation, with only one in five of the 706 people polled backing the plans. Town residents at the meeting urged the church to reconsider.

Bernard Moseley said: “These wonderful buildings belong to all of us.

“I don’t worship there because I am Roman Catholic, but everybody shares a sense of ownership with St Leonard’s because it is so important to the town.

“I would ask the church council to look within themselves and see what they will sacrifice if they press ahead with these changes.”

Cecilia Leighton said: “To demolish the church hall would be the worst form of vandalism possible.

“We must do anything possible to make sure the town retains its hall.”

Robert Barber said: “I don’t believe the hall is going anywhere because of various planning and legal issues.

“Therefore we must preserve it. It would be tragic if the hall fell apart through basic neglect.”

Residents now plan to form a committee to campaign against the development.

No officials from St Leonard’s Church were at the meeting.

In a statement read out, the church council said the church had “taken note” of the Watlington Speaks survey and was exploring options for the site.

Plans have yet to be lodged with South Oxfordshire District Council.

Roger Harwood, the Diocese of Oxford’s director of glebe and buildings, said in a statement: “This has not gone through any formal application process and therefore we cannot comment. However, it is something we are happy to explore.”

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk