CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a walk-in mosque for Blackburn town centre workers and shoppers have been revived.

Planning permission was granted in August 2013 to turn an empty industrial unit in Tontine Street, near Barbara Castle Way, into a place of Islamic worship.

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The scheme, promoted by the Islamic Cultural Centre (ILM), failed to get off the ground because of lack of cash.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council planning department has been told enough money has been raised to proceed with the project to turn the former premises of the former Auto-Windscreen Centre into a satellite religious centre for Muslims working and shopping in the central area of Blackburn.

Because the original planning permission has lapsed the ILM Centre has had to re-apply for a new consent from Town Hall officials.

In 2013, four local businesses objected to the scheme expressing concern about increased traffic, parking and the noise nuisance caused by calls to prayer.

Senior councillors yesterday expressed concerns over traffic and the safety of worshippers and children who could attend an educational centre or ‘madrassa’ to be attached to the mosque at a later date.

But agent and architect Younus Khan believes the problems have been sorted out, with most worshippers arriving on foot, and that the scheme would bring an ‘eyesore’ building back into use.

Since 2013, ILM have moved their offices from Preston New Road into the building and done some structural work to improve and protect it.

Tory councillor Jackie Slater said her original 2013 concerns about parking, traffic, and road safety for worshippers and children remained.

She said: “I am not concerned about a walk-in mosque in Blackburn town centre, I am concerned about the location.

“In terms of traffic and road safety, especially for children at any madrassa, I think this is the wrong place.”

Liberal Democrat Roy Davies said: “I am concerned about traffic, parking, road safety and the felling of trees for this scheme.

“Officials need to look closely at these issues before any re-approval.”

Shear Brow councillor Suleman Khonat said: “This proposal would bring an eyesore building back into use, which would be good.

“However, the issues around parking and road safety need to be carefully reviewed by officers.”

Bastwell councillor Parwaiz Akhtar said: “This is a good scheme to deal with an eyesore building in the town centre.

“I think most of the issues have been resolved and parking is a problem throughout the town centre.

“Children coming to the centre for education classes would arrive after 5pm when the town centre has closed and traffic is far less.”

A new ‘Design and Access Statement’ to support the re-application tells officials: “Upon receipt of the original planning consent the applicants set about attempting to implement the consent.

“The building was generally in a poor state internally and not fit for purpose in terms of opening up as a Mosque/Educational Establishment.

“Given the amount of work needed to convert the premises into the intended use, the community did not have adequate financial backing back in 2013 to both purchase the premises and undertake all the necessary building and structural work.

“Since then, they have raised the capital funds necessary.

“The existing buildings are very utilitarian and frankly contribute little to the character of the adjacent Richmond Terrace Conservation Area in their present state.”

The statement said the trustees were satisfied there would be a maximum of 120 worshippers attending the Mosque during Friday prayers and a maximum of 50 children attending the attached madrassa between 5pm and 7pm daily.

It said: “The mosque will serve the Asian business community working within the immediate locality that currently has nowhere locally to pray during the working day.”

Mr Khan said: “ILM moved in under the existing use for offices and have done some work on the building.

“The proposal will upgrade the rest of the building initially as a prayer hall and conference centre possibly with a madrassa to be added later.

“Planning officers raised the issues of parking and safety with the initial 2013 application which were resolved at the time.

“While we are looking at some Islamic decorative features such as windows we are not talking about a dome or minarets.”