A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build an education and community centre could be turned down over suspicions it would be used as a mosque.

But the agent has refuted this, saying the centre was "not going to be a place of worship".

The building is proposed for a derelict piece of land on the corner of Parkside Road and Birch Lane in West Bowling, and the opening hours have been given as 7am to 10pm.

But the application has divided the local community, with large petitions being gathered both in favour of and against the plan.

On Monday, councillors on the Bradford Area Planning Panel will meet to decide whether to grant permission or not.

But officers have recommended refusal, pointing out "inconsistencies" in the proposal and saying it was "likely the proposed use would include acts of worship".

Their report said: "Looking at the floor plans which include a large ablution room and a 'multi-purpose hall', the building could be used for either a place of worship or as a community and education centre."

It said the decision should be made on the basis that either was possible, and that if it was a place of worship, this would cause disturbance to neighbours "in the form of cars banging, engines revving, [and] talking in and around the residential terraced areas where parking would occur".

But the application's agent, Rashid Moghul, denied the plan was to build a place of worship.

He said: "It's going to be a building there for the community. Every age, religious background, both genders - everybody is going to be able to have access to that building.

"It is not going to be a mosque. It is not going to be a place of worship. That is wrong."

Mr Moghul said a washing area had been included because they wanted to offer fitness classes at the centre.

He said: "One of the things we said was that we did want to get members of the community physically active so we are proposing some exercise classes just to help the community get more into fitness, essentially.

"Providing washing facilities in the centre makes sense. Obviously, people can twist that around and say x, y or z."

The panel meets on Monday at 10am at City Hall.