A CHURCH congregation, driven out by an onslaught of vandalism, has failed to persuade an independent planning inspector its new meeting room should be in Chester's Green Belt.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was forced to quit its premises on Clifton Drive in Blacon after security fencing, CCTV and alarms failed to prevent the difficulties it was facing, city planners heard.

A five-year search by the congregation - which now rents temporary accommodation described as 'unsatisfactory' -, led to an outline application for a high quality design, landmark building on Greenfield Crescent in Hoole Village off the A56, where a detached house would be demolished.

The plans were rejected by Chester City Council and the church appealed to First Secretary of State John Prescott who appointed solicitor D A Hainsworth to hold an informal hearing.

At the hearing, planning consultant Murray Graham, a director of Chester-based Susan Hughes Planning, appeared for the applicant, Swallow Properties. The city council was represented by principal planning officer Mark Cawood and the highway authority by principal transport planner Geoff Hernandez.

Others appearing included Mickle Trafford City Cllr Margaret Parker (Cons), Mickle Traf-ford and District Parish Cllr Freda Mottram, CPRE planning co-ordinator Ann Jones, three Greenfield Crescent residents and church member Sandra Threlfall, of Brook Lane.

There were five main issues, according to the inspector, including whether the church would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, traffic and the effect of the development on the amenities of neighbours.

On the Green Belt issue, the inspector said that churches are not listed as appropriate buildings in the Green Belt and the property which would have been demolished is the last building before open countryside is reached.

The house occupies a small part of the site and the church would have been several times larger with part of the garden becoming a car park.

The openness of the Green Belt would be significantly reduced, argued the inspector, and the church would be seen as an expansion of the built-up area which would harm the Green Belt.

Although Swallow Properties told the inquiry the church would be a landmark building of high quality design, the inspector said it would not maintain the openness of the Green Belt.

Referring to the five-year search by the church for a new meeting house, during which at least nine potential sites had been identified, the inspector suggests the search will eventually be successful and adds: 'I sympathise with the church and hope they will be able to resolve their difficulties.'

In his report, the inspector describes the site as an out-of-town location which would be very accessible to motorists travelling from a wide area.

He did not believe it would meet Government transport policies and feels that access from Warrington Road and Greenfield Crescent would be unsatisfactory.

The inspector dismissed the appeal. At the inquiry, Swallow Properties told the inspector it had secured an option on a neighbouring property which would enable an alternative access from Greenfield Lane.

The inspector decided, however, that this was an important alteration to the application on which there had been no comments or consultation and ruled the alternative access could not be considered.