RESIDENTS in the Bastwell area of Blackburn are angry about plans to convert a photographic studio into a mosque for Shia Muslims.

Plans have been sent to Blackburn with Darwen Council to convert the studio in Jubilee Mill on Logwood Street into a mosque and a madressa - an out of school hours learning facility for children.

More than 150 householders from the surrounding area have signed a petition in a bid to persuade councillors to reject the scheme. But planning experts are advising the conversion be given the green light at Thursday's meeting.

Objections raised include:

The neighbourhood is already served by mosques and madressas within walking distance.

Surrounding side streets are already at capacity in terms of parking.

Traffic movements from the proposed development will cause further congestion from side streets.

Traffic noise and visitor activity will give rise to environmental and health problems for nearby householders.

Conservative Coun Lorraine Chesterton is backing the campaign and has written her own letter to planning chiefs.

She said: "If planning permission is granted it will lead to an over-intensification of what has previously been a quiet commercial area during office and daytime hours."

Members of the Sunni Muslim Oak Street Mosque have also objected to the plans because they say there are already three mosques in the area.

Shia Muslims form a minority sect of relatively limited numbers in Blackburn. The mosque would serve 20 families from the area and other areas on the east side of Blackburn.

The only other facility in the town is on Preston New Road.

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