CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new hall at St Laurence's Church in Alvechurch were given the green light on Monday by Bromsgrove Council, writes Julian Seva.

The £800,000 project had caused friction in the village after some residents and the parish council objected to the design of the hall and the sale of green land for housing to fund it.

But the church was jubilant that the plans could go ahead and hopes the new hall will be open in about a year.

Bromsgrove planning officers did not feel objections to the design of the hall were enough to throw out the application.

A development of a new car park in Bear Hill has also been approved.