CONTROVERSIAL plans for a mosque in Astley Bridge will be considered by Bolton's planning committee for the fifth time.

The planning committee gave the green light for the place of worship in Ramsay Street in August on condition that a car park had to be provided for three to four vehicles on land next to the proposed mosque.

But as the land is not owned by the project's bidder, Massid E Salam and Madrassa Trust, it cannot create the car parking spaces and residents have taken possession of the site by placing a fence around it.

Homeowners fear the plan to extend the use of the building from a madrassa -- a place of learning -- to an adult prayer centre will cause an extra build-up of traffic around Ramsay Street.

But representatives from the Trust hoping to open the mosque have argued that there will be no extra traffic as most users will arrive on foot.

Sixty residents sent letters of objection to Bolton Council's planning department after hearing of the proposal.

As well as their fears over extra traffic, the residents are unhappy as there are two other mosques within a two-mile radius and another one is being built in Sutcliffe Street. They fear the value of their properties will slump.

Planning officers have recommended that the latest application is approved at Thursday's planning meeting as the applicant was not to blame for the loss of the parking area.