PLANS by the Asian community to build a mosque in Clitheroe have been put on the back burner after councillors voted against selling car park land earmarked for the scheme.

Ribble Valley Council's policy and finance committee voted not to sell Peel Street Car Park last night.

It had been earmarked by the town's Muslims as a potential site for a mosque and Islamic education centre.

But councillors said the site was too valuable as a car park, even though it only raised around £800 a year in revenue.

Several residents in the immediate area had also approached the council with objections.

Director of legal services Paul Timson told said it was council policy only to sell land which was not being used and could be put to a more productive use.

Coun Margaret Sutcliffe suggested that the car park could generate more revenue if it was changed from its current long-stay status to short-stay.

She saidthe road was used as a rat-run for drivers trying to avoid the busy junction at the bottom of Pendle Road.

"Peel Street is a very dangerous road, especially for children, with all the motorists who use it in this way. They are irresponsible in the extreme," said Coun Sutcliffe.

She suggested painting the narrow road near the car park with yellow lines which would force people to use it, make the area safer for all the children there and also generate more revenue.

The council members were unanimous in their decision not to allow the sale of the car park, and recommended instead that chief executive David Morris continue to work with the Muslim community in locating a suitable alternative site.

A previous planning application to convert an end terrace in nearby Holden Street had been refused on the grounds that it would be "un-neighbourly".