VILLAGERS have won a long-running battle against plans for a rural church to be turned into a house.
Residents of Thornton-le-Beans, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, opposed the conversion of the former Chapel of Ease, as they thought residental occupation would have been distressing visitors to graves.
District councillors in Hambleton backed their arguments by refusing to allow planning permission.
The proposals had been opposed by the parish council and the Friends of the Chapel of Ease charity.
Twenty-three letters of objection were sent to the district council, including 12 from residents who said they had relatives buried in the graveyard.
Objectors were also concerned about poor parking facilities, saying there would be obstructions to other users.
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