Decision soon on Sneinton mosque and community centre bid
A VEHICLE repair garage in Sneinton could be turned into a community centre and mosque.
City council officers will recommend plans for the building in Sneinton Dale be approved at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday.
If it all gets the go ahead it will become the new home for a charitable group called Dar-us-Salaam, which has been running for about 10 years and is based in a semi-detached Victorian house in Sneinton that has been converted.
The organisation works closely with the Muslim community in the area, but Aurangzeb Khan, who submitted the application, said: "The development will be mutually beneficial for all sectors of the community, helping to create better links between members of differing faiths – and building on the already established Sneinton community spirit.
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"The development will provide excellent education for all who attend.""
The new building would have three levels – a lower floor, ground and first floor.
On the ground level there would be an entry hall, reception and information area, as well as a prayer hall, which would hold up to 210 people.
The application states that it is expected that the attendance at Friday prayers would be about 100. There would be a separate funeral room.
A second hall would accommodate 70 people, and there are four classrooms proposed.
Mr Khan added: "The site was identified for its central community location and high residential population. Developing the land would help to regenerate a largely forgotten area."
Council officers have described the site as being in a "very poor condition". The garage there would be demolished under the plans.
There would be 14 parking spaces at the back of the site but Mr Khan said they would encourage people to walk or use public transport.
Nottingham City Council has received six letters of objection to the plans.
Sneinton Tenants' and Residents' Association has expressed concerns that the development would lead to an increase in traffic and parking problems as well as a loss of light for adjacent properties.
They have also argued the design is not "in keeping" with the surroundings and that another community facility might diminish the viability of existing centres.
The council has also received one letter in support of the application.
The Post was unable to contact anyone at the existing garage at the site.
8 Comments
by Earl_Manvers
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 1:18PM
“It seems strange that the Post believes an application with so little provision for parking would just be recommended for approval. Be interested to see the outcome from Wednesday's meeting.”
by FormerlyW
Monday, January 21 2013, 11:11PM
“I believe that you will find that the levy is only paid for parking spaces used by those for whom its as their workplace, not visitors, so, no they probably won't. (the clue's in the name)”
by Dave_Nottm
Monday, January 21 2013, 11:00PM
“I think it looks okay; modern style, no great towering dome. With 14 parking spaces though, they'd better budget for the WPL!”
by Eggytrump
Monday, January 21 2013, 9:33PM
“If its going to be used for multi-faith activities to bring the whole communiy together then why are a rival group building a Mosque 100m down the road on the old pub site? That does not seem very cohesive and community minded.
That said, the garage it is replacing won't be missed, its a real eyesore, and the traffic currently going in out of it rather negates the objections based on traffic /parking.”
by Jimmy4
Monday, January 21 2013, 8:46PM
“@Roland
Not at all, just wanted to know who's paying for it!”
by MeatisMurder
Monday, January 21 2013, 8:43PM
“As long as it doesn't look like that!”
by roland
Monday, January 21 2013, 8:23PM
“Hey Jimmy
I see where you're coming from - you'd like to think that it was tax payers money so that you could go off on a islamaphobic, right wing rant. But it isn't, so you can't, and we are spared from havind to read your bile.”
by Jimmy4
Monday, January 21 2013, 7:03PM
“Where is the money coming from for this...”