Keston residents have raised traffic concerns following the conversion of a church to a mosque.

The former Keston Methodist Church, along Croydon Road, has been purchased by the Al-Emaan Centre.

It plans to convert the church into a mosque and community centre.

As the church was designated a place of worship as is the mosque, it is not thought permission is needed for this aspect. 

A planning application has been submitted for the addition of a mezzanine floor within the church hall and a single-storey extension.

It is also planning to install skylights and additional toilets, as well as a new fence boundary.

An excerpt from a document submitted to Bromley Council says: "These are minor alterations to a rather unkept church.

"By allowing this proposal we are using the building for what it intended for, a religious centre for the community."

Plans show an extra four parking spaces will be provided, bringing the total on site to 13.

MORE TOP STORIES But this has prompted fears of gridlock along Croydon Road.

On a forum debating the topic, residents have voiced their fears over traffic.

Brian b said: “I am concerned about the impact this venture will have on the local area.

"The plans propose for a mezzanine floor to be added and will accommodate 200 people, with parking for only nine cars, where will they all park?

“As I understand it, the Muslim population in Keston is quite low so a Mosque will not benifit [sic] the local community as a whole but will bring in more people from surrounding areas, mostly arriving by car and adding even more traffic to an area which is already constantly in the top three accident black spots in Bromley.”

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, wrote: “This area is very short of car parking spaces now, so this could be a major problem if the planning application is approved.

"Also there is congestion on the main Croydon Road to be considered."

The application, submitted last December, has yet to be decided.

To view the planning application use reference 14/04652/FULL1.

The Al-Emaan Centre and Bromley Council have been contacted for a comment.