Dozens of locals took to The Leader’s Facebook page yesterday to express their views on the proposed $250,000 development in Sequoia Dr.

The East Tamworth Gospel Trust last month lodged plans with the council for a meeting hall capable of holding up to 120 adult parishioners.

But many residents in the area fear traffic in and out of the church car park will pose a safety risk to the neighbourhood’s children and detract from the area’s amenity.

Forest Hills resident Jennifer Bowden wrote on Facebook page that there were “many other places” the Brethren could build a new church in Tamworth.

“We build out here to get away from the crowd and noise and now they want a church and strangers hanging out here?” she said.

“Nothing against churches, but this is a quiet place to raise kids and not worry about cars everywhere and every day.”

Fellow Forest Hills resident Renae Phillips also expressed concerns about the extra traffic, while Gordon Guyer feared the sect’s building would be just “another compound”.

However, the Brethren’s plans did receive plenty of support from people pointing out it was common – and legal – for churches to be built in residential areas.

Forest Hills homeowner Anne Weekes posted that initially she “bristled” upon hearing about the Brethren’s proposal but had since softened her stance.

“After a day or two I realised that it’s probably a really good thing,” she said. “Brethren are decent, hard-working people.

“Lots of them are living at Forest Hills. I can think of a lot worse alternatives than them having their church on our street.”

Tamworth man Tom Devrell wrote that people should look at the development objectively and without emotion. 

“The increased traffic would be negligible compared to existing traffic,” he said.

“They aren’t going to be hooning down the road in large numbers, nor are they going to be hosting rock concerts at all hours of the day.”

The application is on public display at Ray Walsh House in Peel St until April 24.