A RELIGIOUS group which hoped to build a meeting house in a back garden has been rebuffed by Hillingdon Council.

The group, part of the Christian group The Brethren, had applied to build in the garden of Little Hammonds, a property in Breakspear Road North, Harefield.

A number of neighbours had expressed opposition to the proposals, presenting a 49-signature petition outlining their views.

They described it as inappropriate development of a back garden and expressed concerns about traffic flow.

The applicant, The Streamside Gospel Hall Trust, had described the group as ‘low-key’ adding that an average congregation of 40 members would seek to attend, twice a week.

Hillingdon Council refused the application on Tuesday last week, on the grounds that there would be an increase in noise and disturbance to adjoining properties.