Residents packed a public meeting after plans were submitted to build a car park at mosque, which is housed in a former church building.
Chew Moor Methodist Church closed down in 2023 due to a decline in the size of its congregation.
It was announced last year that the former church, which is on St John’s Road in Chew Moor, was to be turned into a mosque.
No planning approval was required from Bolton Council as there was no “change of use” required as it was still a place of worship.
Plans were recently submitted to the council to build a car park with 19 spaces on what has been described as the ‘village green’ adjacent to the church.
The plans were withdrawn as there had been no environmental report submitted, but it is believed that the proposals will be resubmitted.
The public meeting (Image: Newsquest) Scores of residents turned out to Tempest United FC’s club house to attend a public meeting about the possible plans.
Ward councillors Martyn Cox and Anne Galloway were also at the meeting.
Cllr Galloway sits on the planning committee so is not allowed to be partisan, while Cllr Cox is allowed to be partisan.
Cllr Cox said: “I have represented this ward on and off for 16 years. When I saw what happened last summer to what acts as the village green, I can’t put into words how angry and annoyed I was.”
The grassed area was “torn up” by diggers last year and trees were taken down.
Cllr Cox described it as a “wanton act of vandalism”.
He added: “There is the argument that if this facility is going to be there, then they may as well have the car park as it takes cars off the road.
How the green looked previously (Image: Newsquest) “But I think it is completely inadequate. The great thing about the Methodist Church was that there was not a huge congregation.
“Speaking to the new owners, they intend on growing this facility – 19 car parking spaces is going to be inadequate.”
Read more: Standing room only as concerned villagers told about future plans for church
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Read more: Long-established church set to close doors after almost 170 years
Cllr Galloway explained to the crowd the planning process.
Works on the green (Image: Public) She said: “The biodiversity report was not given. If a garden is to be concreted over, the applicant has to state how they would mitigate the loss of nature.
“But this applicant has not done one, so the planning application is invalid and it has been taken off the portal.
“They need an ecology report, that will take time, maybe a week or two, and they will have to reconsult. It will be the same application but they will do the neighbourhood consultation again.”
Cllr Galloway added that any objections already submitted will remain valid.
She added: “There might be objections to the actual mosque, but that has gone through already as it is a place of worship. It is the car park, but it will be the car park for the mosque.”
She outlined what objections would be seen as valid by a planning committee for those who may wish to object.
Damage to the green (Image: Public) They include traffic issues, noise issues and ecology issues.
Cllr Galloway also raised the opposite point that parking may help get cars off the road.
Residents gave their thoughts on the development.
One said: “St John’s Road is busy at rush hour, but it is also busy all through the day. “Virtually every learner driver in Bolton uses it, plus motorbikes.
“At weekends ambulances use it as a training road too. That road is really busy.”
Another said: “I walk my dogs past two to three times a day, people park their cars on the grass.”
Cllr Galloway replied: “I have emailed the planning officer to say they have got to tell the agent it cannot be used for parking until it is approved and constructed.”
Another resident said: “There will be a lot of noise pollution with worshippers in the early morning at sunrise.”
