Baptists in Upton say they are "hugely disappointed" at the town council's response to a plan to re-open a former gateway to the church on Oak Row.

At a meeting last week, councillors recommended refusal of an application to reinstate an old entrance in the wall behind the building.

A church spokesman said the changes were necessary to ensure easy access for the disabled, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act.

However, councillors said there was adequate space to improve access at the front of the church, without intruding into the town's ancient walls.

Mayor Eric White suggested that the church created a ramp alongside the steps at its existing entrance.

However, church treasurer Alan Churchward said that this would not be ade-quate.

He said: "If we put a long ramp coming out on to the pavement for wheelchairs, there will only be about 4ft of pavement left and it will come out straight on to the road.

"It also means we would have to remove the iron gates that are there and set everything back.

"You can make any system work if you put enough time and money into it but what we're looking at doing is, we believe, the safest and most effective way.

"We're trying to do something positive and we're being blocked at every turn."

Mr Churchward said the church was the only building on Old Street that did not have rear access on to Oak Row.

This is not the first time the church has faced opposition to plans. In 2001, when it announced details of a £207,000 extension, Upton Town Council expressed concern the church hoped to create an access route at the back to facilitate work. In 2003, a new hall built at the church caused councillors to speak out on its size.

A decision on the access plan will be made by the district council at a meeting in May.