PARISHIONERS are looking forward to using a new environmentally-friendly church centre in Weston. Plans to build the centre at St John the Baptist Church, in Lower Church Road, have been given the go-ahead by North Somerset Council. The new building's roo

PARISHIONERS are looking forward to using a new environmentally-friendly church centre in Weston.Plans to build the centre at St John the Baptist Church, in Lower Church Road, have been given the go-ahead by North Somerset Council.The new building's roof will be partly covered in grass to act as insulation and partly made up of solar panels which will produce enough energy to heat church's water.It will be linked to the main church building and house a fully equipped kitchen, an office, a seating area and toilets.Changes are also planned to parts of the church's interior.Some of the pews will be removed and two meeting areas will be created.A pedestrian path will also be built around the new centre with access from Lower Church Road.Church parish council lay chairman Philip Summers said: "We are waiting for the diocesan authority to approve the plans and then we will go out to tender."We're not sure of the exact cost but we anticipate it to be about £400,000."We hope to start work on the scheme in June."The congregation is at bursting point in the current building."The idea behind it is to make it possible to grow the congregation, hold more events here and allow other groups to meet here."It's nice to have done everything we can to make it environmentally-friendly along the way.