RESIDENTS say they are shocked at plans to demolish a 111-year-old church on their street.
The site is planned to be used for housing.
Newthorpe Common Methodist Church, Eastwood, was built in 1902.
Although it is no longer used as a place of worship, it has been used for other gatherings and, most recently, a martial arts club.
The owner of the building, Keith Pyecroft, went through an agency to put in the application to convert the church, its hall and an adjoining house into five new two-storey dwellings.
Mr Pyecroft runs regular martial arts classes in the church hall.
The application was received by Broxtowe Borough Council on Wednesday, May 8, and is still going through its consultation process.
People living close to the property have put in comments to voice their dissatisfaction.
Among them is retiree Brenda Julian, 67, who lives next door to the church.
She has lived in the house next door to the church with her husband for 15 years and has lived nearby since she was little.
She said the church had been used for several celebrations over the years.
She said: "We had a party there for the Queen's Coronation when I was seven.
"We were shocked when we heard it was planned to be demolished because it's been there as long as I can remember."
Brenda said she did not blame Mr Pyecroft for his decision but added she had concerns about the church being turned into houses. She said: "Keith is a nice bloke, he just wants to sell it and get his money back.
"Building five houses there will impinge on our privacy.
"The church has got some history to it. I'm sure it could be used for something."
Housewife Patricia Rowland, 62, of Chewton Crescent, said that she was not aware of the plans.
She said: "I didn't know anything about it all.
"It's a bit sad really, they just seem to be demolishing anything these days.
"It's a shame that they can't make the church into something else."
Steven Penny, 57, of adjacent Chewton Street, has lived opposite the church for 25 years.
He said: "It was open when we first moved here. Everyone knows it as a point of reference.
"If you tell people, 'Come to Chewton Street,' you say, 'It's the one with the chapel.'
"It's a bit disappointing to see it go but if it's going to happen, there's nothing we can do about it."
Mr Pyecroft said the plot of the church had already been planned for demolition before he bought it.
He said: "The building plot was purchased from the church with outline planning permission already granted for the demolition of the church and for the use of the land for some form of development."