Six streets face mosque closures

PARKING restrictions could be put in place around an £8.3m mosque.

Lancasire County Council has applied for a traffic regulation order on streets around the Raza Jamia Masjid Mosque and Link Community Centre in Accrington.

Parts of Barlow Street, Bobbin Close, Dale Street, Grimshaw Street, Lower Antley Street and Wheat Street would be affected each day from 8am-6pm.

A public consultation is underway.

County councillor and mosque member Munsif Dad said the order was needed to protect users of the mosque and centre.

He said: “It’s a large development and there are a lot of people going in and coming out. Lancashire County Council said it would be good to have some management on those streets for health and safety and in case emergency vehicles needed to get access.

“We want to take in the views of local residents who live around those streets and to make sure their normal lives are not disrupted. A majority of the people who use the community centre and the mosque are local people and we do encourage them to walk.

“It’s only on the odd occasion when the weather is really bad or when there’s a large function on.”

Opened in December 2017, the mosque can hold nearly 900 people.

Any representations must be made in writing by March 2.

Write to The Director of Corporate Services, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston, PR1 8XJ or email to troconsultation@lancashire. gov.uk quoting reference LSG4\894.5754\HL1.