ALTERATIONS to the north Watford mosque plans have been made in a bid to placate angry residents.

Architects have reduced the size of the minaret by 10ft to a height of 62ft and moved an entry gate to discourage visitors from parking in the nearby residential area.

Watford Council has also agreed to move a parking bay nearer homes on the A41 to improve visibility for drivers turning out of the mosque's access road.

The council's development control manager Ransford Stewart said: "The residents were concerned that the gate, originally giving access from Cherry Tree Avenue, would mean more street parking.

"By moving the gate it may encourage them to use the car park."

At a meeting in November last year, residents voiced their objections to the plans.

Throughout the presentation council officers were continually shouted down as they outlined the original proposals.

Some of the anger was prompted when residents were told about the height of the minaret. The issue of the gate was also addressed and residents said they were convinced that parking would be a problem if the gate remained where it was in Cherry Tree Avenue.

A spokesman for the council said: "A lot of people thought the meeting was a waste of time and the council was merely paying lip service to the residents.

"The alterations to the plans show we are prepared to listen to their concerns and try to make the proposals more acceptable to them."

The council will be sending out 1,400 letters to residents in north Watford telling them about the changes.

The spokesman added: "We have done everything we can. There will be those people who will object, but that is because they object to the mosque in principle. Hopefully, some of the changes will allay the fears for some people."

But Mr Eric Topping of the North Watford Residents Action Group said the whole scheme should be dropped even though the council has made changes.

He said: "We are pleased the council is listening to us, but personally I think the proposals should be shelved.

"When we had the meeting the architects didn't really appreciate the problems the mosque would create.

"He maintained the mosque was in keeping with the area, but the fact of the matter is that the mosque, with the dome, is equivalent to a four-storey building. That is not 'in keeping' at all."

Mr Topping said the parking bay change is an improvement but there is still a problem with safety because the access road turns right into a busy carriageway.

He added: "They are trying to ease the problems with safety, but they could do this in totality by not pursing the project at all."

Residents will have to respond to the changes by January 27.

Councillors on the development control committee will consider the issue at their meeting on February 4.

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