A GROUP of Clitheroe residents expressed relief after a three-year bid to create the town's first mosque was turned down for the second time.

Ribble Valley Council received over 200 objections to a plan for a single-storey extension on the side of the Islamic Education Centre in Holden Street, with concerns about an increase in traffic problems and noise.

Planning officials had approved the scheme, with three conditions: that it ceased to be used as a mosque before May 31 2004, that religious worship was kept to the extended building only, and that there was no call to prayer or music and singing at the premises.

But members of the council's planning and development committee voted six to five to refuse the application.

Mearley Residents' Association chairman Sheila Sims said: "I am very relieved.

"The residents of Holden Street, Taylor Street and Riverlea Gardens have never understood why Holden Street was seen as a suitable site for a mosque, and hope now the Muslim community will be able to find a better location.

"This decision was definitely one of common sense."

Following the decision, mosque trustee Sheraz Arshad said he was "gutted".

He said: "We will be taking this to appeal. A lot of people who have objected to this do not live in the vicinity.

"The fundamental issue is that this should have been taken at face value as a planning application.

"There is a small Muslim community in Clitheroe and we want to find a suitable place of worship.

"The council has been looking for suitable alternative sites for two years, but has so far come up with nothing.

"At the end of the day we feel we have been done an injustice."

The re-submitted application was much the same as first submitted in 1999, and follows an appeal that had not been determined due to a technicality.

Activity at the mosque was estimated at two or three worshippers in the morning and eight in the evening.

The busiest time would be a 35-minute period on Friday afternoons, with 15 worshippers expected.

Last night, committee members heard that the only traffic-calming measure that had been introduced on Holden Street since the original application was a 20mph speed limit.

Clitheroe councillor Howel Jones said there was an "understandable desire" for a place of worship for Muslims.

He added: "Although I have concerns about this application, there is considerable support for this scheme from the town council and the county surveyor, so the balance tips in favour of the applicants."

He said a 24-hour Tesco and vet were already operating in the area, so people being around at irregular times would not be out of the ordinary.