CONTROVERSIAL plans for an Islamic prayer centre in a residential area have been approved.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council had been recommended to grant a temporary two-year approval for the facility on Beardwood Brow.

The meeting heard the application was a source of “huge tension” in the area.

But the application was passed with permanent permission after members decided any issues as a result of the centre could be dealt with through enforcement.

About 30 worshippers are expected to use the facility but staunch opposition was voiced against the proposals, with 170 letters of objection received by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Fifty-six letters were also received in support of the plan.

Objectors said the facility would be inappropriate for the area and detrimental to the residential character.

Speaking in support of the application, planning consultant Farooq Rafiq said: “[Temporary permission] is not what the applicants applied for, nor is it needed to make this development acceptable in planning terms.

“On parking provision, the application meets the standards set out by the council," he added.

"It is proportionate to the size of the facility which is being put forward.

“The applicants have agreed to fund double yellow lines and enter into a green travel plan.

Speaking on behalf of Beardwood Residents Planning Association, Ian Longworth said the area was not a suitable location for a prayer centre.

Cllr Phil Riley moved that the application should be approved, albeit with the removal of the temporary two-year condition.

He said: “If we focus on the conditions, that means we can use enforcement to manage the circumstances – not in a year or two years but as soon as the facility comes into use.”

Cllr John Pearson added: “I have never seen an application with this many people commenting on it. There is obviously very strong opinion on both sides.

“The rationale with the application is to provide a small-scale facility for the local community within an 800-metre catchment area.

“I asked officers to look at the location of the comments because often they come from far afield and what we found was that there are three times as many people raising objections from within the 800-metre area than there are supporting it.

“It saddens me we have got such a huge tension in that area.”

The application was approved with 10 members voting in favour of granting permission and five councillors abstaining.