ALMOST 500 people have backed the bid to build the new Tauheedul Islam Boys’ School on the site of the former YMCA building, at Edinburgh House, in Clarence Street, Shear Brow, Blackburn.

A petition signed by 499 supporters of the proposal will be submitted to Thursday’s meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committe.

It follows the councillors receiving four similar documents, with a total of 88 signatures, opposing the scheme at their meeting last month.

The Tauheedul foundation wants to open the new school, the first free school for Muslims in the country, in September next year.

Plans for purpose-built premises were submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council in February.

If approved later this year, they will allow the demolition of the former YMCA building, so work can start on the new education complex.

Bosses at Tauheedul hope that the existing boys’ school, which opened last year, will move from its current buildings, in Robinson Street, Little Harwood, in September 2014. The petition submitted to Thursday’s meeting says the proposal would “redevelop and enhance an un-sightly site in a conservation area, provide a valuable community resource, and meet educational needs and aspirations for our children.”

Last month’s petitions opposing the scheme objected on the grounds of traffic and parking problems, noise, disruption, and overlooking the nearby Blackburn Subscription Bowling Club.

They also warn the new school could have a massive, and damaging effect, on the value of nearby homes.

Shear Brow ward councillor and member of the planning committee Suleman Khonat said: “On Thursday we will take note of this petition supporting the boys’ school scheme, as we did of the petitions opposing it last month.

“When officers have compiled their report, there will be a meeting when we will consider the plan in the light of that report, all the petitions, and other representations about the scheme.

“That meeting will take place later this year.”

The school aims to provide a first-class education for its 700 pupils, with the aim of getting many of its students into Britain’s top universities.