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Giant mosque is given go-ahead
Reporter: Oldham Planning Committee report by USMA RAJA
Date online: 04/06/2009
Local muslims breathed a sigh of relief when plans to build a giant mosque and community centre on public open space opposite Werneth Park were finally approved.
Councillors voted in favour of the new facility proposed for land on Manchester Road, Werneth, at the third attempt.
The building will have four floors with a multi-use leisure hall at lower ground floor; the main prayer hall, office and toilets at ground floor; and another hall, classrooms and multi-use activity rooms at first and second floors. The main hall will accommodate 400 people, the second hall a further 80 people and another 310 people in a women’s hall and the activity rooms.
The trust also plans to build a car park at the rear to accommodate 20 vehicles.
Alan Chorlton, the agent for applicant Ummah Welfare Trust, said the building would be open to all communities and have an attractive design.
He also asked councillors to approve the hours of worship from sunrise to after sunset during the summer as prayer times varied.
Supporting the plan, Councillor Christine Wheeler said: “I have never heard or read in the Chronicle that there has been noise disturbance at mosques at sunrise so we should agree.”
Councillor Rod Blyth said: “This is the way forward. If we had a Catholic church would we ban them from having midnight mass? No we wouldn’t because that’s their religion.”
Councillor Stephen Bashforth described the proposed building as magnificent and praised the work of the community who have been behind the scheme. A previous scheme was refused on the basis that the development would result in the loss of an attractive piece of open space in a densely populated urban area.
But planning officers said the new application outlined the wider benefits the scheme will deliver — particularly replacing the open area with a community facility of greater quality that would be more usable by the wider community.
The scheme was approved with prayer times an hour before sunrise and an hour -and-a-half after sunset.
Comments
If at first you don`t succeed try try three times and your wish will be granted. None of the council members who voted for this live in the area and have no idea what chaos this will bring to the already car jammed streets. I am not against a mosque at all but this is clearly not the place for one
I think this is a disgrace why build something when so many buildings in Oldham are empty
The most obvious question to ask is who paid for this land and how much does it cost in the real world? I first had to check the date today to see why the planning committee all seem to dhikr the same tune. We have been told constantly that there was not enough money to maintain the changing rooms at Clayton playing fields; if the planning criteria are followed no open space is safe.
from the town of a hundred chimneys to the town of a hundred minarets in how long?
Is there anyone who honestly believes "the wider community" will use any of these facilities? This is a loss of an open area which is the reason it was repeatedly refused permission until the PC brigade caved in.
For such a vast building with a reported capacity of 790 people, 20 parking spaces doesn't seem so much. If each vehicle is full with five in, that's only 100. Are the majority of worshippers going to walk?
Technically this is just land grabbing.Do you think it will now be ever in our life times be used for anything else.
Anyone interested in land grabbing and such,read Cavill or Cahills who owns the world.
All the money we pay for our council tax what do the people get who have lived here for many generations? Make no bones about it this has New Labour written all over it.divide and rule,cannot wait for sundays euro election results!
Disgusted! What is this town coming to?
How much are we spending on this?
This money could be better spent on the people of Oldham, this project is not aimed at the full community of Oldham.
last one out turn off the lights
Just a quick question, I know the immediate neighbours of this new Mosque got letters asking if they objected to the new building but did the residents across the road at Woodfield Close get asked?. Bet they didnt!.
Have Your Say
There is no god but Alex
By Alex de large @ 04/06/2009 13:37:20
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