A TREASURED church which residents fear they may lose could have been saved by determined councillors. The church

A TREASURED church which residents fear they may lose could have been saved by determined councillors.The church on the former RAF Locking camp acts as a memorial to the thousands of servicemen who served there, but villagers fear the impending commercial and residential development at the site could mean the church will be lost.The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and English Partnership own the site, now called Locking Parklands, and told councillors and residents at a public meeting they needed to hear an 'official pledge' to keep the church to guarantee its survival.At a full council meeting last Tuesday, North Somerset councillors unanimously voted to support a motion to make sure the church stays.Locking's parish church is currently closed and villagers say they need the one for burials as well as a permanent memorial to former servicemen.Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, who represents Locking, said: "There was concern at the public meeting when the SWRDA refused to commit to keeping the church building,"This motion does not make a commitment on behalf of the council it's intended to meet a request from SWRDA to a make this official."The council represents a wider community than just Locking, a community which includes many former servicemen."I want SWRDA to be in no doubt that the whole community wants to support Locking in this.