A bid for a Muslim community centre could get the boot after a 323-strong petition.

Councillors recommended rejecting the bid to convert office space in Argent House, Hook, into a Jamatkhana Community Centre at the south of the borough neighbourhood meeting last night.

They fended off accusations of double standards when they recommended rejecting the application.

Referring to a successful application by a Christian group on the other side of the A3, Councillor Rolson Davies said: “It wasn’t a permanent change and the applicants have to be out by the end of August this year.”

Arif Pradhan, a member of the Ismaili community who spoke up at the meeting, pleaded for a similar chance.

He said: "We can prove to the local community who we are and we mean what we say."

Speaking before the meeting Amin Mawji, the president of the Ismaili Council, said claims a mosque was going to be built were incorrect.

He said: “We don’t want people turning up to pray. It’s like any other community centre, which is not a church or a synagogue."

Earlier the Hook community had distanced itself from a Facebook group opposing the resource for the Ismaili Muslim community after it was filled with racist and anti-Muslim comments.

English Defence League (EDL) member Peter Lynch set up the group Residents Against Chessington Jamatkhana Community Centre (Mosque), which drew comments ranging from planning questions and complaints about parking to threats of violence, swearing and anti-Muslim statements.

Mr Lynch posted a comment asking people not to leave any racist remarks on the group.

He said the campaign group had nothing to do with race or religion.

He said: “They wanted to be open from 3am until 10pm and said they would be bussing in people. If it was for the local community then why would they be bussing people in?"

Mr Lynch said there were two schools in the local area and hundreds of people arriving to use the centre would cause parking and traffic problems.

Lorraine Rolfe, from Crofts Residents’ Association, said: “We totally distance ourselves from the EDL.

“We have got on the Facebook page to keep an eye on what is being said.”

A final decision will be made by the development control committee on Thursday, March 22.

Planning officers published their recommendation today suggesting councillors reject the application.