A ROW has broken out in the idyllic Cotswold town of Burford over plans to transform a run-down community hall.

St John the Baptist Church, known as Burford Church, has submitted plans to expand nearby Warwick Hall, Church Lane, to build a “heart” for the community.

But residents have hit out because the hall will be extended into the church’s yard, a plan they say is “insensitive”.

As well as refurbishing the existing building, the work will create a new 200-seat hall, meeting rooms, cafe and toilets.

The hall belongs to the church but has been leased to Burford Town Council for the past 30 years. The lease runs out in April.

The Reverend Richard Coombs, who is behind the plan, hopes the revamped hall will be used by many more community groups.

He said: “People have stopped using Warwick Hall because the facilities are so inadequate.

“The church believes it now has a great opportunity to redevelop the building to serve the growing church and the growing community of Burford.

“We feel the community needs a heart for its life, and we hope this will provide that.”

Mr Coombs added: “We are looking for major contributions from the existing congregation and then looking to trusts and charitable bodies to fund the project.”

He said the church hoped to have the funding in place within the next year and begin work in 2013, although he said this was “quite optimistic”.

But although Mr Coombs said the work will be “sympathetic to the surrounding area”, there are those who do not feel the same way.

Former Burford resident John Melvin said: “The church yard is a wonderful complement to one of the outstanding churches in the country and they are proposing to extend the hall into it.

“The plan is unnecessary, insensitive and would do lasting damage to the church yard, which is very loved and cherished by many in Burford.”

Elizabeth Mortimer, of Witney Street in Burford, said: “I really do not want to see that churchyard spoilt. It is such a peaceful place. It is a good idea to extend Warwick Hall, but it should be done in a more modest way.”

Burford mayor John White said: “The town council is very supportive of the scheme.

“Warwick Hall badly needs redevelopment and the town needs a community centre.”

West Oxfordshire District Council will decide on the plans.