Noise ban on Kennington church

News

Noise ban on Kennington church

Thursday, 15 October 2009

All Nations Centre

By Greg Truscott

AN UNHOLY row has erupted after a town hall slapped a ban on noisy services at a church.

Labour-run Lambeth council served the noise abatement order on the All Nations Centre in Kennington, after complaints about loud music and sermons from residents.

The pentecostal church which has a congregation of 600, has been told it cannot amplify its services because of the disturbance it causes.

But church leaders have claimed the amplification ban will mean the congregation will struggle to hear popular hymns.

All Nations pastor Victor Jibuike, 43, has blamed the ban on ill feeling in the local neighbourhood over proposals for the church to take over the running of the former Lilian Bayliss school site.

The church has been in talks with the council over the future of the site which is used to provide sports facilities for young people in the area.

Pastor Jibuike said: “The complaint against us has nothing to do with noise and everything to do with our faith.

“It feels as if they’re trying to harrass us and drive us out.”

The congregation has been meeting at All Nations since the 1960s and Mr Jibuike said they had never received a complaint before.

He said the church began to face opposition from neighbours after it emerged that it was in negotation with the council to develop a disused school.

He said: “We are horrified at the implications of this order which means people will no longer be able to worship.”

The church is appealing the council’s ban and is being represented by Paul Diamond, the leading human rights barrister, who advised Caroline Petrie, the nurse who was suspended for offering to pray for a patient and then reinstated.

A council spokesman said: “We only use this kind of enforcement as a last resort.

“We have received numerous complaints from local residents about the level of amplified noise and arranged several meetings with the centre to discuss a solution, but unfortunately the problem has continued so we have had to serve a noise abatement notice.”

Email: greg.truscott@slp.co.uk