RESIDENTS opposed to plans for a town centre mosque have been invited to the site to discuss their fears.

The move came as Muslims in Clitheroe were told to put forward their case for the development to a Government inspector on March 18.

A three-year bid to build the mosque at the back of an Islamic Education Centre in Holden Street came to a halt last year, when planners gave the scheme the thumbs-down for the second time.

Now an appeal into the controversial plan is to be heard by the Government's Planning Inspectorate in the Ribble Valley Council Offices. Ribble Valley planning officers had recommended the scheme be approved on the condition that religious worship be kept to the extended building only, there be no call to prayer and no singing in the building.

But members of the Ribble Valley Council's Planning Committee rejected the plan by six votes to five. The application was similar to a 1999 scheme refused on the grounds of increased traffic and noise.

Mosque spokesman Sheraz Arshad said: "I would like to reassure local people that this will be a quiet worshipping area for Muslims and information centre for anyone who wants to know more about Islam.

"The physical appearance of the building will not change and there will not be a spire or call tower. Many Clitheroe Muslims were born and bred in the town, myself included, and we just want a fair hearing.

"We want to foster good relations with the community and anyone who wants to know more about the project is invited to contact us. We would be more than happy to meet them."

Activity at the proposed mosque has been estimated at two or three worshippers in the morning and eight in the evening.

The busiest time is expected to be a 35-minute period on Friday afternoons, when 15 worshippers are likely to use the site.

But Sheila Sims, chairman of the Mearley Residents' Association, who will speak at the appeal against the plan, said there was widespread concern in the Holden Street area about the scheme.

"The proposed mosque will be in a little end of terrace cottage, which is not suitable for development. A veterinary surgery is open across the road until late every day and there is a 24-hour Tesco nearby. Holden Street is also used as a rat run to an industrial estate and we are concerned about traffic levels as it is.

"We really don't feel this is the right site for a mosque. It should be in a commercial or industrial area, where there is plenty of space.

"The last time for worship will be after sunset, so there will be people coming and going late at night in the summer. We're not saying local Muslims shouldn't have a mosque, just that this is not the right place."

Anyone requiring more information about the proposed mosque, e-mail Sheraz Arshad at medinaiec@aol.com