AN ISLAMIC cultural centre in Accrington is one step closer to opening after an application to change the original plans was given the go-ahead.

Officials at the Hyndburn Cultural Centre, on Richmond Hill Street, were given permission to alter the internal layout of the former Warwick and Bailey mill to create wedding, education, office and fitness facilities.

Hyndburn Council's Planning Comm-ittee was told that the Grade II listed building was bought by the Ghousia Mosque Committee in 1998 and a year later planners granted permission to turn it into a cultural centre.

Since then, the mosque committee has been trying to raise funds to carry out the scheme and restoration work has now started at the site, with the ground floor being leased out for industrial use to help fund the work.

Mr Brent Clarkson, development control manager, said that the main objections from residents had been about potential parking problems in the area.

But he recommended the application for approval because it had made provision for 13 car parking spaces. He added that as an industrial premises the building would have attracted more cars and heavy goods vehicles.

Welcoming the news, Councillor David Parkins said: "Bringing the building back into use outweighs the traffic issue - otherwise it would most probably be left derelict.

"We have got people who want to put money into this building and we should let them do that."

The application will see wedding venue facilities installed on the first floor, education and office space on the second floor and a fitness centre on the third floor.

Conditions imposed on the application included making sure that the opening hours of the premises were confined to 9am to 10pm every day and that hard-surfacing and marking out the car park was carried out.