Brum Ideal Org update!

[ScudMuffin]

Thought we could do with a new thread, no real need to necrothread.

BrumAnon: Pitmaston Update Thread

App 2009/03401/PA has been approved, subject to conditions - 22 of them. The Council's decision document spells these out, no real relevance I think except maybe on site access (#16). Presumably as access is shared with Pitmaston, the developer's plans will have to take account of the massive influx of people who will be flocking to take advantage of the new Ideal Org's extensive training facilities (ref this thread).

NOTE: the apps 2009/03401/PA and 2009/03402/PA have nothing to do with either the Church of Scientology or Pitmaston itself as such, but only with adjacent land bought by the developer, T. H. Kingerlee & Sons Limited - lot 2 in the diagram in the first post of this thread, concerning "82 Russell Road/123 Moor Green Lane and land at Pitmaston Moseley Birmingham B13 8NG". The CoS has yet to submit any change of use or planning applications for the building, as far as I'm aware.

BrumAnon Operation: Pitstop

[greebly]

the developer's plans will have to take account of the massive influx of people who will be flocking to take advantage of the new Ideal Org's extensive training facilities

lol

According to my data they still have not paid off the "mortgage" yet, lol.

When any exes get some time please PM me re:
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?p=423087

[La La Lou Lou]

I hope they have enough room for a heliport, and space for all the Bentleys and Rolls Royces people will flock in from Wallsall and Bromsgrove, Woverhampton's not far, yes I can see this Org filling up in no time (as in never!)

[La La Lou Lou]

Take a look at the Birmingham central Mosque and the ideal org looks pretty puny.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...26tbs%3Disch:1


Also note that there 140000 thousand Muslims in Birmingham and 1781 Scientologists in the whole of England and Wales per the last census.

Birmingham has plenty of big mosques, temples and churches this idle org doesn't make them look that big or powerful.

[Smilla]

What's 'ideal' about Ideal Orgs is the fact that there's nobody inside them

[La La Lou Lou]

Smilla, how right you are empty orgs are good for me too.

[EnturbTheDragon]

Local rag the Birmingham Mail is reporting that the Ideal Org in Moseley (Pitmaston) will open soon:

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/t...7319-26615388/

Church of Scientology to open new HQ in Moseley

THE Church of Scientology is set to open its new multi-million pound Midland headquarters in Moseley within weeks.

The well-known Grade II-listed Pitmaston building, in Moor Green Lane, was snapped up by the church for £4.25 million two years ago.

It has made the former insurance offices into the headquarters for its Midland operation because a rocketing membership has seen it outgrow premises in Ethel Street, Birmingham.

The church, which has previously denied accusations that it is a cult, lists Hollywood celebrities Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its followers.

Church leaders claim that membership has grown in the West Midlands by 25 per cent in the last ten years and an estimated 27,000 people have taken part in services.

Scientologists are now in talks with the Birmingham City Council over altering the Pitmaston building’s use from an office block to a place of worship. It is expected that the building will be reopened as early as July and will be used to deliver courses to 160 people at a time in its ornate hall, while smaller seminars will be delivered in oak-panelled board rooms at the 1920s-built premises.

Marianne Rowell, one of Scientology’s senior figures, said she hoped to attract a big name celebrity disciple like socialite Peaches Geldof to the opening.

“The new church will be the main centre serving the Birmingham and West Midlands area, and we expect that many hundreds of people will attend religious services there,” said a spokesman.

The building has lain empty since the Church of Scientology bought it.

Scientologists have allayed fears about the building’s period features and promise that none of its character will be lost.

They also plan to hold an open day to answer questions about their faith.

“The building will be renovated to meet our needs while maintaining and enhancing the structure and character of the building,” said the spokesman.

“We make all of our buildings available to the wider community for charitable events, meetings and interfaith gatherings.

“If there is a need for a venue and we can help, we will be very happy to do so.”

I think it's lazy journalism and not much more than a regurgitated press release - it's been well-documented that the CoS bought the estate in September 2007 for example, and the reason given for the move is a claim and not a fact - but it's news nonetheless.

[Dulloldfart]

[My snips and bolds from the newspaper article]

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/t...7319-26615388/

Church of Scientology to open new HQ in Moseley

THE Church of Scientology is set to open its new multi-million pound Midland headquarters in Moseley within weeks.

The well-known Grade II-listed Pitmaston building, in Moor Green Lane, was snapped up by the church for £4.25 million two years ago.

It has made the former insurance offices into the headquarters for its Midland operation because a rocketing membership has seen it outgrow premises in Ethel Street, Birmingham.

...

Church leaders claim that membership has grown in the West Midlands by 25 per cent in the last ten years and an estimated 27,000 people have taken part in services.

Scientologists are now in talks with the Birmingham City Council over altering the Pitmaston building’s use from an office block to a place of worship. It is expected that the building will be reopened as early as July and will be used to deliver courses to 160 people at a time in its ornate hall, while smaller seminars will be delivered in oak-panelled board rooms at the 1920s-built premises.

Marianne Rowell, one of Scientology’s senior figures, said she hoped to attract a big name celebrity disciple like socialite Peaches Geldof to the opening.

“The new church will be the main centre serving the Birmingham and West Midlands area, and we expect that many hundreds of people will attend religious services there,” said a spokesman.

The building has lain empty since the Church of Scientology bought it.

...

“The building will be renovated to meet our needs while maintaining and enhancing the structure and character of the building,” said the spokesman.

So let's see. It's lain fallow for two years. They don't have permission (yet) to change its zoning to a place of worship. (They must use a different dictionary to mine, as they can't possibly admit that they worship money.)

"Outgrow" their former premises? Yeah, right. It's a shame the authorities don't have a "Dox or GTFO" culture.

Peaches Geldof? Yeah, great PR. But if you don't see the media or Internet you don't get the skinny, do you?

And they haven't started renos yet, but still hope to have it open by July, 4-8 weeks away! This is CofS Ideal Org renos, so I assume it involves gutting the place.

Sigh.

Paul

[Zinjifar]

I hope they have enough room for a heliport, and space for all the Bentleys and Rolls Royces people will flock in from Wallsall and Bromsgrove, Woverhampton's not far, yes I can see this Org filling up in no time (as in never!)

Needs a flying saucer landing pad on the roof too.

Zinj

[ScudMuffin]

Doubt it'll open before the end of the year. They've been spouting the same spiel since 2006 at least.