residents has been deferred by the Development and Applications Board (DAB) pending further information.

The Rev. Terence Stovell submitted an application to planning on August 29 to build a 5,000 square foot church on Barry Road which will seat up to 1,000 worshippers.

But residents are opposed to the planned 12th church in the parish, - excluding St. Davids -- to be built on the Cable & Wireless site which still houses antennas.

Objections from area residents have included comments such as: "I don't understand the need for a Church that size when the majority of churches are only 40 to 50 percent full.'' The resident also questioned whether worshippers who attend Pastor Stovell's sermons at Spice Valley Middle School will want to make the journey to St.

George's.

Pastor Stovell said that his church membership is large and growing, and said that his desire was to build for the prospect of further change.

Other neighbours objected to a possible drug rehab programme that would be set up at the church, claiming the nearby Woodshop Plus had led to increased break-ins.

One objector said: "The location of a number of persons who would be tempted to go back to their previous lifestyles is an open market drawing those who would be tempted to provide the drugs.''