Confusion over mosque plans

SOME councillors are concerned about the way plans for a new mosque were brought forward as urgent business by Planning Committee chairman Roger Hindle.

Proposals for a new mosque in Waterloo Street were fast-tracked at a planning meeting in Oldham last week.

The mosque, on land bounded by Sickle Street and Grantham Street, will replace a mosque and offices in Orme Street which are now too small for the local Bangladeshi community. The plan was approved but Labour Councillor Jean Jones abstained and said: “Ward councillors had shown an interest in this for some weeks previously and this came as a bolt from the blue having been told only a week earlier it would not be on the agenda.

“I specifically asked if there were any planning reasons it had come forward and there weren’t any.”

Fellow Labour Councillor Ali Aqeel Salamat said he was told the plans would be discussed in April.

He added: “I was quite disgusted that I was denied my right to speak as a ward councillor in support of the plans. They were passed, but what was so important they had to be brought as urgent business?”

Tory Councillor John Hudson said the reasons for the application being brought forward were never really clarified.

He added: “I wanted a proper explanation and we got a not very satisfactory answer.

“However, once the legal officer explained that it was right to go ahead, I considered it on planning grounds only. It will release three or four houses to go back into housing and will be helping local people.”

The plans consist of a three-storey building, but it will be cut into the rising ground on Waterloo Street to minimise the impact on near-by houses.

A monetary agreement called Section 106 will be paid to cover the loss of open space and will improve land in Barlow Street and the Bolton Street kick-pitch.

Councillor Hindle said a full explanation was given that there had been negotiations over the section 106 agreement which were resolved at the last minute.

He added: “There was also the fact that this is tied in with funding that is only available until the end of the financial year.”