A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a mosque at the back of a terraced house in Clitheroe has been recommended for approval by planners.

A revised plan limiting hours of worship at the proposed Holden Street mosque was given the thumbs-up by Clitheroe Town Council last week.

Now it comes up before Ribble Valley Council's Planning and Development Committee on Thursday with a recommendation of approval.

A spokesman for the town's Muslim community said he was hopeful councillors would now give the scheme the go-ahead.

But Holden Street residents, spearheaded by the Mearley Residents' Association, today said they would be attending Thursday's meeting in force and asking councillors to turn it down.

They are sticking by their claims that a mosque in a busy town centre street will be a traffic hazard and noise nuisance.

Mosque spokesman Sheraz Arshad said: "The new plan takes into consideration the concerns of a planning inspector regarding hours of worship and we therefore expected it to be recommended for approval.

"We hope councillors will execute their powers appropriately and assess this scheme on planning terms. If they carry out their duties correctly, there's no reason for it to be refused and we are hopeful of a positive outcome."

But Sheila Sims, chairman of the Mearley Residents' Association, said: "Yet again, we are faced with the prospect of a mosque at a totally unsuitable site, despite an earlier application being rejected on appeal by a planning inspector.

"We wanted to seek legal advice on this matter and appoint a planning consultant to act on our behalf, as well as seek the opinions of all residents in the Holden Street area. We asked the council for more time to prepare our case, as we feel the scheme is being pushed through.

"I have taken eighty-five letters of objection to the council offices today and more are expected to follow. I have asked to speak at the meeting and am expecting a huge turn-out of residents."