WEYHILL’S former police station looks set to be demolished and replaced by a place of worship.

Andover’s Plymouth Brethren Community, who already have a number of halls, have applied for permission to build a gospel hall which will primarily be used by members of the Brethren community living to the west of the town.

Currently there are 12 families or about 50 people likely to use this hall on a regular basis, but it is planned that it could accommodate a much larger number – up to 250 people – on occasion.

The planned building, while lower in height than the existing police station, will be larger as it will extend further back and will be more visible as some of the trees in the area are to be removed.

TVBC planning officer Samantha Owen says that while there is no overriding need for this building, it would be a community building replacing a community building.

While Penton Mewsey parish council has not objected to the plan, it has expressed concern about there being sufficient car parking and the number of trees to be felled.

However the planning officer said: “The site proposes 50 car parking spaces which meets the adopted parking standards for places of worship.”

If the plan is accepted the applicants will be asked to enter into a legal agreement and make a financial contribution of £4,600 towards the Andover to Ludgershall cycle route.

A memorial to a police officer who died on duty near the site is to be retained within the proposed development.

The memorial is to Police Constable James Dolan who died on 2 December 1956, aged just 36, when he was accidentally killed on duty while carrying out a road check for a stolen car at Weyhill.