Plans to convert an Eccleshall Road property into a spiritualist church have been rejected for the second time this year.

In July, an application was received by Stafford Borough Council requesting permission to change a "dwellinghouse" on Eccleshall Road into a "church assembly building with maisonette over."

The application stated: "The proposal involves the occupation of the existing building by the Spiritualists National Union for religious worship, teaching, healing and community activities together with ancillary facilities including a church hall, healing rooms, library, social facilities and a residential maisonette.

"The proposed internal layout includes a main church hall, healing room, library/social room, café area and associated facilities.

"The proposal also provides six off-street parking spaces."

On Tuesday (10 November), the plans were refused mainly due to noise and parking concerns which were also among the reasons the original application was rejected in May of this year.

This is despite the fact that an acoustic assessment and transportation report were submitted with the second application.

However, council planners were still unconvinced stating: "The proposed use of the rear garden area for church assembly would result in undue noise and disturbance, harmful to the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.

"Furthermore insufficient information has been provided to allow a robust assessment as to the likely noise impacts arising from the development, including any necessary mitigation measures.

"Consequently, officers are not satisfied that the proposals will avoid undue noise and disturbance to surrounding residential occupiers, and future occupiers of the proposed maisonette.

"The proposed development fails to make adequate provision for the parking of vehicles within the site curtilage resulting in an increase in the likelihood of highway danger due to the likelihood of vehicles being parked on the public highway."

There were also several objections made by people living in the area.

One person said: "This will give rise to even more traffic on this already busy road, representing a danger to the people living in this residential area, some of which are disabled and elderly.

"In addition there are a number of families with school age children navigating crossing the Eccleshall road every day on their way back and forth from school."

Another said: "A church and assembly building has the potential to generate significantly more noise and activity than a private dwelling house.

"This could include amplified speech, singing, music, religious services, group meetings, conversations outside the premises and the arrival and departure of congregations.

"I am concerned that the proposed use could cause an unacceptable level of disturbance to neighbouring properties."

Read the full application here.