Controversial plans to extend a Sheffield mosque have been approved by councillors

The Masjid Umar mosque will be allowed to demolish neighbouring 304 Barnsley Road and an outbuilding and build a large two-storey extension to create a prayer hall and entrance.

There were 313 people and three petitions with a total of 113 signatures against the plans. And there were another 311 people and a petition with 165 signatures in support.

Local residents told the planning board that they had suffered from noise and parking problems for years and the new, bigger mosque would make it even worse.

Graeme Thorpe said: "This will be two and a half times higher than existing buildings and will have a significant impact on neighbouring properties by allowing views into people's homes.

"It will be over-dominant and impact on the neighbourhood, the site is not large enough to accommodate this level of development.

"Barnsley Road is already congested, there are services from 3.30am to 10.30pm and it's not acceptable in a residential area."

Mohammed Aslam also objected. "I have lived here since 1984 and enjoyed peace for 14 years until it started being used as a mosque. Since then I have been disrupted by people attending up to five times a day, people come every day of the year.

"There is noise from people banging car doors and talking loudly, they park on double yellow lines and obstruct driveways. The cul-de-sac has become parking for the mosque despite the double yellow lines because the council doesn't enforce parking restrictions.

"I appreciate the Islamic architecture but this is completely in the wrong place and will dominate the housing around it, which will be completely overshadowed."

Councillors said it was a difficult decision but they agreed the plans 10-3 because conditions can be put on to try to alleviate some of the parking and noise problems.

Coun Andrew Sangar said: "It's a difficult balance but at least we can get a condition on and get the mosque to have a management plan. This is the only way of getting some control of this situation."

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