Religious centre plan to go ahead
Plans to build a place of worship and education centre look set to be approved despite neighbours' objections.
Goodwood Community and Education Trust wants to put up a three-storey religious centre, with a 19m-high minaret and 31-space car park.
It would be at the corner of Gamel Road and Davenport Road, Goodwood, Leicester, where temporary cabins have served a similar purpose for five years.
The redevelopment plan – for a former pub site – will go before Leicester City Council's planning and development control committee on Thursday. Senior planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved.
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However, 33 people have signed a petition opposing the plans and six sent in letters of objection. They said the site was not big enough, would be too noisy and would create traffic and parking problems.
Carol Wellborn, of Davenport Road, said: "We've lived here for 50 years, but every Friday can't get a parking space in our own street.
"The big thing for me is the buses. During prayer times on Friday, the roads are blocked. It means buses can't get through. They are a lifeline to the many elderly people in this area.
"My neighbours are Sikh and Muslim and I have no problem with that, but my view is there are enough mosques.
"This place would be ideal for a youth or community centre, which people are crying out for – something everyone could use."
A Harringworth Road resident, who did not want to be named, said: "They say they're a community centre, but a tenants' association meeting the other day was the first time in five years they've invited us in.
"Come prayer time, it's impossible to park."
Another resident said: "Thirty-one parking spaces is nowhere near enough."
If approved, hours of use will be from 7.30am to 11pm on most days and conditions would prohibit parking on verges and live or amplified music or calls to prayer.
In his report, planning director Andrew Smith said: "I consider a new building and car park would greatly improve the appearance of this prominent corner plot.
"The proposed conditions would help to minimise the impact on nearby residential properties."
20 Comments
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by aristoc
Friday, February 22 2013, 4:58AM
“Oh """it!Forgot something I did want to say.Where have all the councillors gone(not a Joan Baez song)to comment?”
by Bob491
Thursday, February 21 2013, 7:58PM
“Quote: "There's a minaret on the end of the Houses of Parliament!"
It was a joke, keiran! Just like the one on the town hall.
However, they do have similarities, don't they. Minarets are used to inform others that it is time for prayer. Big Ben minaret also informs others of the time.”
by keiran
Thursday, February 21 2013, 6:37PM
“blob 491.. and your point is ?”
by Bob491
Thursday, February 21 2013, 12:11AM
“There's a minaret on the end of the Houses of Parliament!”
by anobserver
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 4:03PM
“How about a minarete on the Town Hall.”
by karinfall1955
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:59PM
“Isn't it Switzerland that has banned minarets in their country? Always did have a lot of time for Switzerland. It can't only be me that finds minarets depressing in this country, particularly the one that is pretty much the first thing you see arriving at Leicester train station. They just look out of place to me.”
by keiran
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:27AM
“There seems to be plenty of people who do not want this mosque{sorry ,place of worship} but apart from this bloke in the council nobody to say why they want it .Why is that ?It is an open forum after all.”
by anobserver
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 8:25AM
“Maybe something or nothing to be gotten here.A court case in London agreed that a long standing law that allowed the right of site was upheld and a building may have to have the upper levels removed.I wonder if the yes guy from the council is aware of this.”
by elisabeth1
Monday, February 18 2013, 10:01AM
“Can we take the word community as in English.
People having common interests.Common possession or enjoyment.
If we go to Muhammads biography,Sira,75% consists of a jihad waged on unbelievers.
Maybe the Hindu part of the community can share the place to remember Bal Thackery and support the Shiv Senna Party.
Maybe licenced for partys for,lets say,St Georges Day.
Maybe a nice hog roast for St Patricks Day.
Tolerance or what ?”
by elisabeth1
Monday, February 18 2013, 6:18AM
“Where is the money coming from ?
Judging by what is known as far as 11 months ago they have £153.000.Not a real pot of gold for what is planned.
Why no accounts for nearly a year and this year accounts due in 6 weeks ?
Getting boring now repeating myself but where is the money coming from ?”