NEIGHBOURS of Pitt Town’s St James’ Anglican Church fear its proposed redevelopment will impact on their properties.
The church is seeking to build another two storeys on top of its hall and construct a larger car park and sports fields.
But neighbours complain the new facilities will occupy almost all of the church’s land and bring more noise and disturb their semirural outlook.
‘‘Noise is a big concern of mine because the church’s application says the operating hours are 8am-10pm, seven days a week,’’ Sandra Connor said.
‘‘Another concern is lights; our bedrooms look out on to where the car park is.
‘‘Can they guarantee there won’t be hoods screeching round in the car park late at night?’’
Her neighbours, Greg Carroll and Kellie Cooper-Durant, voiced similar concerns.
‘‘The visual impact and the noise would be what worries us the most,’’ Ms CooperDurant said.
‘‘The noise is already noticeable, when there’s something going at the church as it is now.
‘‘Increasing the number of events by a significant amount, together with the visual impact, will upset the rural atmosphere here.’’
Mr Carroll said the new structure would be three storeys, allowing more people to hold more functions.
‘‘They’re talking about an acoustics wall to block the noise, but unless it’s about 10 metres high it probably won’t make much difference,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s going to be a bit of an eyesore as well.’’
All said they were not opposed to some redevelopment of the church, but thought it should be limited.
St James’ minister Greg Peisley said the church was growing and therefore needed expanded facilities.
‘‘We’ve run out of room and Pitt Town is growing; where are we going to put people when they keep arriving?
‘‘One hundred kids already turn up for youth group on Friday night and more are coming.’’
Reverend Peisley said the proposed car park was a condition required by Hawkesbury Council to avoid more on-street parking.
He also said the church’s neighbours had little to worry about because no extra activities were planned.
‘‘We only do services and youth groups; there’s nothing else,’’ Reverend Peisley said.
‘‘Friday night youth group is all over by 7pm and there’s Sunday night church at 5pm.
‘‘We’re not doing anything different, it’s just we’ll have more room to do the same things.’’
Hawkesbury Council will decide the development application at a later date.
