REVISED plans for a mosque at the site of a new housing estate in Clitheroe town centre have passed the first hurdle.

But objectors are furious after the controversial plan was included on a Clitheroe Council agenda at the last minute.

The Holden Street scheme was given the thumbs-up on the condition that planning permission be withdrawn if problems arose.

The final approval lies with borough councillors, who last year turned down a request by Mohammed Arshad to build the mosque next to an Islamic education centre on the grounds that it would be "unneighbourly."

The proposed mosque caused a storm of protest and bitterly divided residents in the small town centre street.

Objectors and supporters of the scheme turned out in force and packed the council chamber to hear the decision.

An appeal due to be held in Clitheroe by a Government inspector was withdrawn pending the fresh application.

Mohammed Arshad has now resubmitted plans for a smaller development with sound-proofing. Clitheroe Mayor Alan Yearing said: "The new application came in late, but was included on the agenda in the normal manner. A motion to defer a decision was overturned.

"The revised plan promises that people will walk to the mosque, rather than use cars. We passed it on the recommendation that, if any problems weren't addressed, permission be withdrawn. I stress, we are not the planning authority and the overall decision lies with Ribble Valley Council."

But objector Mohammed Amin accused Clitheroe Council of acting undemocratically.

"We should have been told that the matter was going to be discussed," he said.

"The level of objection to this mosque is very high and we should have been at the meeting." Langtree Homes have been developing a site at the back of Holden Street since the original plan was submitted.

They are building 44 detached and semi-detached family homes ranging from £52,000 to £75,000.

The mosque will not have a call tower and includes a car park, but residents are objecting on the grounds of noise and poor access.

The matter will come up before the Ribble Valley Council's planning committee shortly.

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