A LEADING New Forest clergyman has defended plans to bulldoze a church used by a playgroup and other community organisations.

A campaign has been launched to save St Bernard's Church in Southbourne Avenue, Holbury, following an application to replace the building with bungalows.

A previous plan was rejected by New Forest District Council in May 1997 because it would have involved the loss of a community facility.

Campaigners are hoping the new application will also be turned down.

But the scheme was defended by the parish priest, Father Ray Lyons, who is championing plans to replace St Bernard's and another church with a new place of worship. He said in a letter to the Daily Echo: "Both our current buildings are grossly inadequate and unable to provide for the liturgical, spiritual and pastoral needs of the community.

"They would require huge expenditure to make them sound and viable - a scandalous waste of resources.

"After many months of prayer and consultation the parish pastoral council decided to support the proposal of having one parish church and pastoral centre.

"This decision has been fully endorsed by the bishop and all the diocesan authorities."

Father Lyons said most parishioners supported the plan - and warned that no amount of "ill-informed" letters would force a U-turn.

He said: "Any current parishioner has a right to express their opinion.

"But they do not have the right to frustrate the clearly expressed will of the vast majority of active parishioners - and they will not."

A council spokesman said the outline application to demolish St Bernard's might be determined by planning officers under delegated powers. If not, it was likely to go before the development control sub-committee on December 8, he said.

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