Application – Coventry

An application has been submitted for 108-114 Red Lane,Coventry,CV6 5EQ for :-

Change of use from storage (Use Class B8) to place of worship (Use Class D1) with first floor extension to provide associated office space and single storey detached buildings to provide security office and mortuary.

We would urge all Coventry residents to comment, and object. You can comment on the application using this link:-

http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/servlets/PlanningComments?REFNO=FUL/2017/1110

What to say (feel free to cut and paste).

• The proposed development has insufficient onsite parking. Six spaces are unacceptable for 600+ users, and does not comply with local core strategy.

• The proposed development is located on a narrow (but busy) road. Any illegal parking will impact on the traffic flow, and affect highway safety.

• The proposed development is located on a narrow (but busy) road. Vehicles entering and leaving the site will impact on the traffic flow, and affect highway safety.

• The need for the proposed development is not proven. There are a number of similar facilities within 10 minutes journey.

• The proposed development will be in operation for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This will cause harm to the residential amenity.

• The proposed development is located on viable employment land, and as such is protected by local core strategy.

• The PTAL rating of the site is poor.

• The applicant has supplied no Travel Plan , or data concerning users.

Please remember, no comments of a religious or racial nature.

Community Centres.

A worrying new trend has developed allowing “stealth mosques” to spring up at formerly council owned community centres.

As local authorities look to unload any financial burdens, many are leasing out council owned and publicly built community centres to “community associations” to manage.

There seems to be little restriction on who can set up a community association, and little due dilligence from the councils as to how it will be run.

Community centres benefit from a generic D1 use permission, and as such can be used as a place of worship.

One community centre in Barking & Dagenham has already been handed over to a “community association”, who`s first order of business was to issue a council approved sub let to the local Islamic Association (who have been monopolising the centre for years). Local residents now face years of parking Jihad every Friday with little protection from the council.

There have already been documented cases of community centres being run covertly as mosques. The one in the story below has banned alcohol and music from the centre.

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/10828223.Investigation_launched_into_community_centre_after_mosque_claims/?ref=mr

Unless the community associations clearly breach any conditions or rules included in their lease (relating to use or inclusion), there is little that you can do legally.

We advise that you check with your local councillors, if a community association is being formed to manage your local community center…get yourself involved.

 

 

South Woodford Mosque Expansion Stopped Again

Tremendous news from Essex, where South Woodford residents have again stopped plans to expand the Qur’ani Murkuz Trust in Mulberry Way.

This is the third application (and the second appeal to the Planning Inspectorate) !

The planning inspector said “I consider that the proposal would have a negative effect on the environmental and social roles of sustainability and that this would outweigh the limited economic benefit. As such, the proposal would not amount to sustainable development and does not benefit from the presumption in favour of sustainable development set out in Framework paragraph 14. Conclusion 20″.

The full decision can be viewed here (look at the decision doc):-

https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3163387

Congratulations to local residents, who have vowed to keep fighting. The applicants have already indicated that they submit another application.

Man the ramparts !

Application-Rotherham

An application has been received for “change of use to community centre (class D2) for a 5 year temporary period of time including single storey extensions” at the Crown Manufactory (Rotherham) Ltd, Chapel Walk , Rotherham. The plans clearly show a large hall, with lots of toilets and washing facilities and separate entrances. It`s clear to us what this will be….a mosque.

Should you wish to object, the link is here:-

http://planning.rotherham.gov.uk/fastweblive/comment.asp?AltRef=RB2017/0271&ApplicationNumber=&AddressPrefix=Chapel+Walk&Postcode=&CaseOfficer=&ParishName=&AreaTeam=&WardMember=&Consultant=&DateReceivedStart=13%2F2%2F2017&DateReceivedEnd=7%2F3%2F2017&DateDecidedStart=&DateDecidedEnd=&Locality=&AgentName=&ApplicantName=&ShowDecided=&DecisionDescription=&DecisionLevel=&Sort1=FullAddressPrefix&Sort2=DateReceived+DESC&Submit=Search

What to say:-

The proposed development is incorrectly described, it is in fact a Place of Worship (D1).

No details of “community activities” have been submitted by the applicant.

The proposed development will create huge volumes of traffic and congestion to the local road network.

The proposed development could hold up to 1,000 users, there is insufficient parking onsite, and on local roads.

The proposed development has a poor PTAL rating, meaning that most users will arrive

by car.

The proposed development will create noise and disturbance to the residential amenity.

The proposed development is large, and warrants the submission of a formal Travel Plan.

The proposed development is a large site suitable for business and job creation, it`s use as a Place of Worship would be a loss of valuable employment land.

 

The deadline for objections is March 16th 2017

 

 

Application In Timperley Withdrawn.

Great news from Greater Manchester where local residents have forced the the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association (AHMA) to withdraw a controversial application to build a new Islamic community centre on Green Belt in Timperley.

Locals organised demos, petitions and fundraising to fight this awful application on yet another section of Green Belt land. This seems to be a worrying trend.

Despite the withdrawal, local residents will remain on watch since a strategic development plan submitted by Greater Manchester Council is proposing quite widespread building on Green Belt areas (including Timperley). If passed and adopted, it may give the AHMA grounds to resubmit (setting a dangerous legal precedent for the protection of  Green Belt zones).

This one may not be over just yet.

 

Keep fighting.

 

 

 

 

Application- Bolton.

Yet another application in troubled Bolton.

Please can you help local residents by objecting to this application for a “CHANGE OF USE FROM VACANT CAR SALES SITE/SHOWROOM TO PLACE OF WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY EXTENSIONS AT FRONT SIDE AND REAR TOGETHER WITH NEW ACCESS POINTS AND ENTRANCE GATES at 270 BRIDGEMAN STREET, BOLTON, BL3 6BS.

https://www.planningpa.bolton.gov.uk/online-applications-17/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_91378

Grounds For Your Objection.

The proposed development would be a serious loss of a large piece of employment land. Although the previous business failed, it is a prime commercial location.

The proposed development would attract in the region of 350 worshipers at full capacity, although the application meets council standards for parking there are insufficient onsite spaces to accommodate car users (estimated at 65 cars). The applicants have played down the numbers of users, why else would they need 18 spaces for public carrier vehicles ?

Worshipers who are unable to park onsite will be forced to park in the residential area opposite, thereby harming the residential amenity.

The proposed development will generate additional traffic and disturbance, and harm the residential amenity. Bridgeman St is quite narrow, and is a busy road.

No Travel Plan or traffic survey have been submitted with this application.

 

Timperley Application Update.

So no sign of the application yet, despite lots of promises that it will be presented “in the next few weeks”.

The Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association have applied to have the Environmental Impact Assessment waived, since they claim to have completed surveys already covering the subject. Call us old cynics, but if you commission a survey from a company they are hardly likely to come up with results that harm your application. We do hope Trafford Council  insist on the full EIA.

The smart money is now that the application will go in over Christmas (an old ploy) , hoping to catch the locals napping.

Having spoken to the residents groups, we know they are ready to deliver 20,000 leaflets and objection letters. And another demonstration is ready to go.

Now that`s commitment !

 

Watch this space for further updates.

Great Lever Mega Mosque Approved Again.

The rather odd machinations of the Bolton planning committee continue. Sadly for local residents they have approved a second application for a 3,000 capacity mosque in Great Lever, Bolton. It`s clear to us at Mosqueblock, that the council are behind this second application to cover up a previous legal error. Complaints to the Chief Exec and the Local Government Ombudsman are still ongoing.

A local activist  spoke against the application, and made some strong points that many of the councilors clearly agreed with.One councilor felt that the public had been deliberately misled by the applicants. It was not a unanimous vote like last time.

However, after reviewing the footage of the meeting it may appear that another error may have been made.  We find this amazing, were the Planning Department asleep during the meeting ? Were Legal Services present ? More complaints to follow.

The Planning Committee were recently audited by the Planning Advisory Service, and were told to make improvements (not that the council will release the full report). The Head of Planning  resigned, rather than face further scrutiny.

We predict an awkward few months for the council. Sadly none of this will help the local residents who will face a tidal wave of cars every Friday.

Keep fighting !

 

New Application – Bolton.

This is a new application for an existing approval featured previously on this site. An update on the story can be found here:-

https://mosqueblock.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/makkah-mosque-bolton-update/

Please could you help local residents by objecting to the new application here:-

https://www.planningpa.bolton.gov.uk/online-applications-17/applicationDetails.do?previousCaseType=Property&previousKeyVal=PROPLPI_111398_1&activeTab=summary&previousCaseUprn=100012559591&previousCaseNumber=PROPLPI_111398_1&keyVal=DCAPR_91125

What to say when you object:-

The proposed development is far too large and overbearing in terms of mass and scale.

The proposed development does not match local architecture and construction materials.

The proposed development does not promote or enhance local character and distinctiveness.In particular the proposed development will have a serious impact on the Grecian Mill complex, which has a Grade II listing. “Where a proposed development will lead to substantial harm to or total loss of significance of a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities should refuse permission (NPPF)”

The proposed development has insufficient onsite parking to accommodate the 500 car users (based on a 1200 capacity and a 47% modal share). This will force worshipers to park in nearby residential streets (mainly Rigby Court and Ninehouse Lane)  affecting highway safety and traffic flow. The demolition of the existing building will create extra parking. This will generate at least an extra 400 trips daily, bringing the local road network to a standstill.

The proposed development has insufficient onsite parking to accommodate the recommended 500 car spaces (based on a 1200 capacity and a 47% modal share). This will force worshipers to park in nearby residential streets  (mainly Rigby Court and Ninehouse Lane), and cause noise and disturbance to the residential amenity. Based on the applicants latest figures the capacity could be as high as 2,500…requiring nearly 1200 spaces.

 

 

 

 

Makkah Mosque , Bolton – Update.

Following the council`s potentially illegal approval of the last application on this site in Bolton, we have a new application (which we will cover in a separate blog).

On 25/08/16 Bolton`s planning committee passed an application for  “ERECTION OF A MOSQUE AND COMMUNITY CENTRE” (ref 95548/15). This included a last minute revision to demolish the existing mosque, which was added to the conditions of the approval. This is of course, a material change and as such should have been referred back to the public for consultation.

Local residents quite rightly sought legal advice, and although there was a case to answer were unable to raise the funds necessary for a Judicial Review. Complaints to the council`s Standards Committee and the Local Government Ombudsman are live and ongoing. There have been angry protests already at council meetings !

The new application is an attempt by the applicants to head off any legal action, by including the demolition of the existing  building to the application.

Bolton Council are currently under the scrutiny of the Planning Advisory Service following an inquiry into practices at the Planning committee stage. A report is due in three weeks.

 

Fido