MUSLIMS in Clitheroe are to take their controversial scheme for a town centre mosque to a Government appeal.

The three-year bid to build the mosque at the back of an Islamic Education Centre in Holden Street came to a halt earlier this year, when planners gave the scheme the thumbs-down for the second time.

Planning officers had recommended the scheme be approved on the condition that religious worship be kept to the extended building only, there be no call to prayer and no singing in the building.

But members of the Ribble Valley Council's planning committee gave the scheme the thumbs-down by six votes to five, on noise and traffic grounds.

The plan was much the same as a 1999 scheme, which was also refused on the grounds of increased traffic and noise.

Mosque spokesman Sheraz Arshad said an appeal on the mosque plan had now been lodged with the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

And Ribble Valley Council has started leafleting residents in the Holden Street area informing them about the appeal, which could be heard as early as March.

Sheraz Arshad said: "We are funding the appeal ourselves with local support. There have never been any formal objections to this scheme from public bodies, only from residents, many of whom live outside the Holden Street area.

"I would like to reassure local people that this will be a quiet worshipping area for Muslims and an information area for anyone who wants to know more about Islam.

"Many of Clitheroe's Muslim residents were born and bred in the town, myself included, and we just want a fair hearing. We want to work with members of the local community, not against them."

Activity at the proposed mosque has been estimated at two or three worshippers in the morning and eight in the evening.

The busiest time is expected to be a 35-minute period on Friday afternoons, when 15 worshippers are likely to use the site.

Sheila Sims, chairman of the Mearley Residents' Association, said there was widespread concern in the Holden Street area about the scheme.

"The traffic situation in Holden Street has recently got worse. The proposed mosque will be in a little end of terrace cottage, which is not suitable for development.

"A veterinary surgery is open across the road until late every day and there is a 24-hour Tesco nearby. Holden Street is used as a rat run to an industrial estate and we are concerned about traffic levels as it is.

"There would be noise from people entering and leaving the proposed mosque and it would be far better situated elsewhere.

"We really don't feel this is the right site for it."