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>>Title: Jewellery Quarter businesses unhappy at plans >>for Jesus Army drop-in centre >>Website: birminghampost.net >>Date: 23/09/2011 >>Link : <a rel=nofollow target=_blank >>href="http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-busines >s >>/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2011/09/23 >/ >>jewellery-quarter-businesses-unhappy-at-plans-for-jesu >s >>-army-drop-in-centre-65233-29469895/">Jewellery >>Quarter businesses unhappy at plans for Jesus Army >>drop-in centre</a> >> >><b>Jewellery Quarter businesses unhappy at plans for >>Jesus Army drop-in centre</b> >> >>Business leaders are threatening to leave Birmingham's >>Jewellery Quarter because of plans by a controversial >>religious group to open a drop-in centre and place of >>worship in a former office building. >> >>Church group The Jesus Army has submitted a scheme to >>redevelop the former office block in Lionel Street, >>near St Paul’s Square, into a centre, including a >>walk-in facility for sex workers, drug addicts and >>asylum seekers. >> >>Chris Booth, chairman of the Jewellery Quarter >>Association Heritage and Regeneration group, said >>local businesses were concerned about the potential >>impact on the area. >> >>He said: “At least a dozen business owners have said >>they will leave the immediate area if planning consent >>is granted to the Jesus Army. This area will be >>blighted.” >> >>He claimed there was also opposition to the plans from >>various councillors and police. >> >>“The safety of residents and customers at nearby >>restaurants and other entertainment venues is >>paramount and this could be jeopardised if the centre >>is allowed to open,” he said. >> >>Mr Booth was backed by local businessman Tim >>Horwitch-Smith, of LMM Ltd, based in Cornwall >>Buildings, next to the proposed centre. >> >>He said: “In light of the council’s plan to invest >>huge amounts of money to create a gateway to the >>Jewellery Quarter, the proposed location for the >>centre does nothing to enhance the area, which >>includes the city’s only genuine Georgian Square. It’s >>a complete contradiction to the rest of the area.” >> >>Another objector, Tony Haran, added: “It is the >>demographic of potential clients that the Jesus Army >>is targeting that is causing the concern for many >>residents. >> >>“When the planning application was submitted there >>were over 50 objections, mainly from residents who >>were concerned over the issues of safety. >> >>"There has recently been a spate of beggars causing a >>nuisance in St Paul’s Square which the police worked >>hard to eradicate. >> >>"However, it is felt that the addition of the Jesus >>Army centre will require more police to patrol the >>surrounding streets, canals and public places. >> >>“I have tried not to labour on the loss of value to >>business owners, however, this is very serious. If an >>area is blighted then there will be a significant >>effect on the value of property and business assets.” >> >>It is thought the Jesus Army paid almost £1 million to >>buy the Lionel Street premises. >> >>The application to change the use of the site from >>offices to a place of worship, drop-in centre and cafe >>has been submitted to Birmingham City Council by the >>Jesus Army Charitable Trust. >> >>Plans indicate that more than 200 worshippers would >>attend the centre with 60 volunteers and an increasing >>number of staff as the centre becomes busier. >> >>An application was submitted to Birmingham City >>Council in June, which was deferred. A public >>consultation period ends next month. >> >>The group is part of the Jesus Fellowship or New >>Creation Christian Church, founded in 1969. >> >>It now has 3,500 members in 24 congregations across >>the UK. It also operates an estimated 70 properties, >>including several in Birmingham and the West Midlands. >> >>The organisation behind the Jesus Army is also said to >>be involved with several business concerns, including >>other religious groups like the House of Goodness, a >>property empire, a health food chain, a firm of >>solicitors and other commercial enterprises. >> >>It has around £14 million in assets and an annual >>turnover of more than £20 million. >> >>All of the property, income, and capital donated by >>members, together with land, assets and income of the >>various Jesus Army businesses, is owned, held and >>administered by the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust, >>which is behind the Birmingham planning application. >> >>Army members frequently stage high-profile recruitment >>campaigns of mainly young people in public places. >>Birmingham’s Broad Street is regularly targeted by >>members keen to increase its presence in the city. >> >>But there have been frequent allegations that the >>Jesus Army operates as a cult. It has been criticised >>by former members and other more conventional church >>groups for its “authoritarian-style of leadership” >>amid claims members were put under pressure to commit >>to life-long celibacy and hand over their material >>possessions. >> >>However, John Campbell, a spokesman for the Jesus >>Army, denied the group was a cult. >> >>“That is a very serious allegation,” he said. “But we >>are a Christian Church and are recognised by other >>church leaders. People are free to come and go of >>their own free will and we seek to do good in the >>community.” >> >>He did not deny that some of its members chose a >>celibate lifestyle or handed all their cash and >>possessions to the organisations. >> >>“That is an option that exists in many religious >>groups,” he said. >> >>Mr Campbell said the centre would improve the Lionel >>Street and he forecast that fellow residents and >>businesses in the area would welcome the Jesus Army >>when it moved into the premises. >> >>“Everyone will be welcome to drop-in. There has been >>too much scaremongering and nimbyism,” he said. >> >>A spokesman for the council said it could not comment >>on current applications. > >I seriously doubt JC would like a jesus centre in his >back yard either
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