Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) approved a design for a roundabout and other infrastructure to be built at the new Campbell Road and Calala Lane intersection, with tenders for the contract now closed.

Residents in the area raised "child safety" fears after discovering the roundabout would be built near a crossing used by school kids.

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Tamworth Regional Ratepayers Association (TRRA) member Peter Gill told the Leader it was an issue the group would investigate further.

"It would be of consideration to the association to take it up and run with it," he said.

Mr Gill, who is a civil engineer, said there appeared to be some "anger" in the community surrounding the plan, including an apparent lack of consultation.

Mr Gill said he personally would have liked to see traffic lights replace the roundabout design.

It was a call echoed by Calala resident Brad Walsh and ex-councillor and career paramedic Ray Tait.

"The safety of the school children is my biggest concern ... I think a set of traffic lights would take out all the issues," Mr Gill said.

"I wouldn't necessarily put cost down as a ruling parameter ... I think a set of traffic lights would keep the road width as is and also provide a safe path for kids to cross from one side to the other."

A council spokesperson said in a statement that traffic lights were looked into when the Calala Lane and Campbell Road upgrade was considered.

"This option did not progress because traffic volumes at this intersection do not meet the requirements set by Transport for NSW for traffic lights to be installed," the statement said.

"The cost to install and maintain traffic lights is higher than roundabouts but this was not considered due to the intersection not firstly meeting the requirements set by Transport for NSW."

The TRC website indicates Calala Lane is used by about 10,000 vehicles each day and Campbell Road at the Calala Lane end was used by about 3700.

The Calala Lane and Campbell Road intersection upgrade was put to the community last year, and council has demanded the project be completed by August 13.

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