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by Lib Dem team on 18 June, 2014
Back on 3rd June we let you know that the Council’s received a planning application from the Islamic Centre on Foxland Road, Gatley.
There’s been quite a bit of comment and concern following that so we wanted to bring you up to date with the latest information we have.
The application, which you can see here, is to extend the opening hours of the centre to allow 24 hour opening.
We’re told that this is to allow up to five people to attend morning prayers, the timing of which is related to dawn so can be as early as 4am. The application asks for a trial extension for 12 months.
Residents have raised a number of different concerns about the proposals, the common being that there are a lot of cars on a Friday afternoon and it makes parking in the area difficult.
We’re concerned about the proposal – we’re unclear why it has to be 24 hour opening – and we’re also concerned about the Friday parking issue.
If planning officers recommend that the application is granted, it will automatically come to Area Committee for councillors to consider. That could be at the next area committee on Tuesday 8th July, 6pm at Ladybridge Park Residents Club, Edenbridge Road, Cheadle Hulme but we won’t know for another week or two so we’ll let you know as soon as we do.
The Council has a legal duty to approve any planning application unless there are valid planning grounds to reject it. Those grounds have to relate specifically to the application, not anything else. That means anyone opposed to the application needs to provide objections that relate specifically to problems that would be caused by the centre being open between 10pm and 7am (as it can already open at other times, so issues relating to what it can already do can’t be considered as part of the application).
The applicants’ agent has submitted the document below as part of the planning process which explains more about the proposal.
16 Comments
This is a prime residential area. Above these shops there is residential property which ought to be able to enjoy peace and quiet overnight. This also applies to all the houses in close proximity to the parade.
Noise at night-time is regulated for that reason as much as possible eg:- night flights, ice cream van bells, cessation of drilling on roads and building sites, and also movement of lorries to premises adjacent to houses.
I am against the extended hours application from Islamic Centre because people arriving soon after 4.00 a.m. to attend morning prayers will no doubt be arriving by car. This means noise from engines and car doors slamming, people meeting and greeting one another on the street. The local residents will be disturbed as worshippers arrive and then later leave the premises in the small hours of the morning. Also, this could be the thin edge of the wedge as the application asks for a trial extension for 12 months and then presumably for a longer period and for more than 5 worshippers leading to even more night-time disturbance for local residents.
Why on earth do these people have to pray all night and day at everyone elses expense, why don’t they buy a big field way out in the country.
Does anyone know about what they are planning to do at the mosque in heald green – look at this – http://www.stockport.gov.uk/planning DC/055162 this has been kept very quiet!!!
Lesley – regarding Heald Green I’d say that the Cheadle Muslim Association have done an excellent job of informing local residents: they leafleted hundreds of people in the area and held an open day to talk to residents about the plans.
The aim is to extend the current building to give enough room for the existing worshippers and improve community facilities.
Iain Roberts,
Is there no way of getting double yellow lines & parking officers around the Cheadle Muslim Association. Believe me we are annoyed with the minority of idiots who disturb our neighbours and the traffic.
What has this not been done yet? This could help ease tensions between different groups of people.
Hi Shabir – those double yellow lines have been approved by councillors in the last couple of months (with the support of the CMA) so should be going down shortly.
Recently the coalition government has been advocating the adoption of British values by all citizens/subjects. I think one of these should be observance of the custom that all of us are entitled to an undisturbed night’s sleep.
Not a British value Les. I think you’ll find that it is a worldwide value as are most of the values our government thinks are solely ours.
I am against the extended hours application from Islamic Centre for the Foxland premises. My reasons are as very well said above by Gwyn Arnold and Les Leckie.
I assume that these comments are only that – just comments. So how do we object officially? Is there an online form we can fill in?
Hi John – click on the link in the 3rd para of the article, then scroll down and near the bottom you’ll see the section to make public representations.
Don’t agree with you, Paula. When I visited Cairo I was awakened in the middle of the night by a man calling the faithful to prayer from the top of a tower using a loudspeaker. I was told it was common practice in Muslim countries. I didn’t complain as I was a visitor in a foreign country. If that same man woke me in Cheadle with his loudspeaker I would not take it lying down.
Les Leckie,
No Mosque in Manchester calls out to prayer like those in Muslim Countries and it will never be that way. Nothing to worry about there.
PS. Us Muslims love Church Bells and Christmas Lights, just thought id clarify that before you start getting on the defensive.
All this trouble and unrest to others, just for 5 people to pray, why can’t they do it in their own homes? it’s a joke.
Thanks again Iain.
Liked Les’s 23rd June. I’ve had the same experiences in North Africa and in the Emirates. When i’ve visited there i accept their rules. Just like any country would expect of visitors.
So why should people expect britain to be any different.
Details of Planning Application – DC/055460
http://planning.stockport.gov.uk/PlanningData/AcolNetCGI.gov?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=120945
I clicked, then got > Unfortunately, the consultation period for this application is not open. Please contact the case officer directly if you have any questions.
Why not open … ?
#12 – How can we be assured of that, Shabir?
The way the media sadly shows anything and everything in the middle east as gunfighters, fanatics, suicide bombers etc – (i’m not saying i agree with it but) what chance is there that us here in Gatley village will support such a change?