CREATING a new Muslim community centre in Chesham would lead to “a huge road accident waiting to happen” and do nothing to promote community cohesion, councillors said last night.

Plans to convert a disused office building in Cameron Road into a community centre operated by the Rawdhah Academy have been met with strong opposition by neighbouring residents.

A petition signed by 170 people has already been submitted to Chiltern District Council raising concerns over an increase in traffic.

This is the second proposal to be put forward by the Rawdhah Academy, an educational establishment currently based in Berkhampstead Road, after a previous application was rejected two years ago over highway safety concerns.

And members of Chesham Town Council raised the same fears when they met last night.

Cllr Mark Shaw, whose ward covers the area around the proposed development site, said: “I have had a number of objections from people in Cameron Road, Berkhampstead Road and the Hilltop estate since the first planning application went in.

“There’s an awful lot of traffic and a lack of parking facilities, which makes it very, very dangerous for the safety of young children and elderly people. A number of elderly people live right next door.

“I would urge everyone to agree this should be turned down in the strongest possible terms, because it’s of huge concern to a large number of people.

“It’s a very narrow turning out – it’s one huge road accident waiting to happen.”

Cllr Ruth Juett said: “Although they have mentioned there’s parking, as an educational centre it would attract more people outside of Chesham, which would increase the traffic flow in an area where the air quality is poor.

“They say it’s open until 10.30pm to use as a youth club. We already have a youth club and we are trying to promote community cohesion. It feels a bit isolating by having another youth club in the same part of the town centre when we are trying to promote community cohesion.”

Lack of parking, highway safety concerns, increased traffic flow and a further reduction in air quality were all put forward as reasons for refusal.

Plans submitted as part of the application state the centre would have a maximum occupancy of 50 people for classes. Sessions would take place at various times between 9am and 10.30pm on weekdays, and from 11am-5pm at weekends.

Meanwhile, councillors decided not to make a formal comment to the district council over proposals to convert the disused Wild Rover pub on Amersham Road into a used car sales business, in another application being considered at the same meeting.

If given approval the ground floor of the former pub would be converted to offices, with the upper floors remaining as housing, and the car park would be used as a selling lot.

The old car park has been used unofficially for trading and parking cars, councillors said, with Cllr Fred Wilson joking: “Shouldn’t this application say it’s retrospective?”

Members said although they were not in favour of the proposals, legally there were no planning reasons for refusal.