Muslim clerics at the Marakazul-Uloom-Al-Islanmiyya mosque on Ridge Road, Eastwood, want to flatten the building and build a new worship and teaching centre.

The proposed building would have a central dome and minaret more than 50ft high.

But councillors are being urged to reject the plan after some residents claimed they feel intimidated by some of the young worshippers attending the mosque.

They are also worried about parking problems, loss of privacy, lack of consultation and claim the mosque would stick out like a sore thumb.

But planning officials have also received more than 250 letters of support for the mosque, particularly from children who take part in its teaching facilities.

The existing mosque was never given planning permission but was registered by Rotherham Council as a place of worship in 2002.

In a report, planning officers say the mosque scheme should be approved and add: "The majority of Ridge Road is on a slope and the buildings are generally of a varied height and architectural style.

"It is considered that while the new building would be clearly visible on the street scene, its impact would not be excessively dominant or out of keeping".

Planning officials say fears of loss of privacy by nearby homes could be overcome by the use of obscured glass in the new mosque's windows.

And they add that parking is not likely to be a problem as the mosque operates a one-way system for visitors' cars.

Muslim leaders say the site has been used by the community for several years and is only used in the evenings when local roads are not as busy as during the day.

READ MORE
More Rotherham news
Main news index
Letters
Check out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic section