A CAMPAIGN to extend a mosque in Nelson has been won - despite opposition from Pendle’s planning officers and the British National Party.

Worshippers at the Mohammadi Mosque, on Netherfield Road, had applied to the borough council to build a first floor extension over the present premises and an existing car park.

But council planning chiefs had opposed the venture, claiming there was a major increase in floorspace with only one extra car parking space provided.

Blueprints showed that the existing prayer room would be relocated within the car park extension and teaching facilities would also be moved to the larger provision.

The former prayer room on the ground floor would be divided into a body washing room and store, and a small meeting room.

And the extra space over the existing mosque would be used as a ladies prayer room, general teaching space and offices.

Planning agent John Clancy denied that the proposals would generate more traffic or result in extra worshippers at the mosque.

He said: “The worshippers are packed in like sardines and this would give them some elbow room.

“The main intention of these plans is to increase the amount of floorspace to serve the number of worshippers who are there now.”

Coun Nadeem Ahmed said: “All that is happening is that the prayer room is moving to the first floor.

“The report leads us to think that that will lead to more traffic when Mr Clancy, on behalf of the applicants, says no more vehicles are envisaged.”

He said that most of the congregation attending services lived within the local community, meaning that parking needs were minimal.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal said the local authority had submitted planning applications “left, right and centre” for Nelson town centre without having to demonstrate the need for extra parking provisions.

And Coun Sonia Robinson said she supported the proposals, especially as they offered improved facilities for female worshippers.

Members of Pendle council’s Nelson committee voted to approved the mosque extension - with the exception of British National Party councillors Brian Parker and Adam Grant.

Coun Parker called for the application to be rejected on highway safety grounds, adding: “Netherfield Road is already a busy road with inappropriate parking.”