Brompton Oratory fights plans for Boris bike station

One of London's largest churches is objecting to plans to install a docking station for 28 of the Mayor's hire bikes next to its site.

The Brompton Oratory in South Kensington says any increase in bicycles outside the church will disturb the congregation and cause overcrowding on the pavement.

The Rev Julian Large suggests the bikes should be parked outside the Ismaili Centre in Cromwell Gardens instead. The parking spot outside the church is one of 400 across Zone 1 intended to be used by 6,000 bikes to be introduced next summer.

Other residents have also complained about a loss of pavement space and a potential risk to pedestrians.

The local planning committee is set to approve the application, however. A spokesman for the Mayor said the locations of the docking points were decided by officials at TfL and not Mr Johnson.