Owners of the Keston mosque say rejection of their planning application has made 'no difference' to their plans.

Formerly the Keston Methodist Church, along Croydon Road, it was purchased by the Al-Emaan Centre.

In December they put in a planning application to Bromley Council for the addition of a mezzanine floor and a single-storey extension.

The application was initially going to a committee but was refused under delegated powers on Wednesday (March 18).

Permission is not needed to convert the church into a mosque, as both are designated places of worship.

Dr Taha, co-managing director of Al-Emaan Centre, said: "We have no problems with the outcome of the application, and are certainly not sad or affected by it.

MORE TOP STORIES "Our application was not a major requirement for us at all, and the use as a place of worship has not changed.

"The outcome has not made a difference to our planned activities nor the overall capacity.

"The extra car parking spaces were actually for disabled access from the front but this is something we can work around."

He confirmed they do not have any plans to appeal.

He added: “When we are open we would like to invite the local residents to attend and gain an insight into our aims and aspirations."

Some residents expressed their sadness at the recent protest by the far right group the BNP.

Stephen Granville, 63, said: "I’m a bit upset by it because I don’t believe as many people as they said will be going. They only wanted a few car parking spaces.

"I wouldn’t have thought it would be refused.

"It’s a place of worship I can’t see why there would be a problem.

"The BNP are trying to stir up divisions within our community and to fire up religious hatred, it makes me really angry."

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Stephen Granville

The retired BT engineer, from Woodcote Drive in Petts Wood, is regularly in the Keston area, and added: "It will be good for the community, I believe in integration.

"I certainly will be going to any open day they will have."

A spokesman for Bromley Council said: "The proposal was considered to represent inappropriate development on Green Belt land.

“It was also considered that the proposal would increase capacity and visitors, causing parking issues, harm to traffic flow on the A232 and the amenities of the area."