Mosque will never be built on old church site after final appeal is denied
A MOSQUE will definitely not be built in a Lincoln suburb after its backers' final appeal was denied.
Lincoln's Islamic Association had wanted to create a new, purpose-built mosque on the site of an old tin chapel in Church Drive, off Boultham Park Road, which burned down in 2008.
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The land in Church Drive, off Boultham Park Road, Lincoln.
The application was turned down by City of Lincoln Council in October last year after residents raised concerns about traffic problems.
The Islamic Association took its case to the Planning Inspectorate, but yesterday inspectors announced they had ruled against the appeal.
Jean Flannery, vice-chairman of the Boultham Residents' Association, said: "We are pleased that common sense has prevailed because it would have been a nightmare in regard to parking if the mosque had gone ahead.
"But at the same time we do feel for the Muslim community, not having a place of their own to worship.
"I hope that someone helps them find a better place for a mosque, maybe the council or perhaps a landowner could suggest a suitable site that the Islamic Association could buy."
The application had prompted a barrage of opposition from residents and a group on social networking site Facebook, containing 850 members, was also set up.
Most of the objections were centred on parking problems, with locals saying there were not enough parking spaces to accommodate all the worshipers who turn up for Friday prayers.
Ultimately, the report from the Planning Inspectorate agreed.
Inspector Robert Watson said: "I have considerable sympathy with the problems and aspirations of the Islamic Association.
"A new physical focus for their vibrant community is required, particularly in the light of the setbacks they have suffered recently.
"However, my overall conclusion is this site is not appropriate for the location of the proposed development.
"The development of a religious centre associated with an expanding and active Muslim community of subregional importance, in my view, would lead to potentially serious highway and amenity problems."
This leaves Lincoln's Muslim community with no permanent home and services are currently held at the Grandstand in Carholme Road.
Dr Tanweer Ahmed, of the Lincoln Islamic Association, was unavailable for comment.
The group currently owns the site in Church Drive, but it is not clear what will now happen to it.
Mrs Flannery added: "We are asking locals for ideas on what could happen to the site, in the event that the Islamic Association do decide to sell.
"Maybe a community park would be a good idea, or even allotments."
City of Lincoln Council member Councillor Karen Lee, who supported the mosque appeal, said: "While I understand the reasons for the appeal being dismissed, I would support having a permanent mosque site in Lincoln.
"They currently worship at the Lincoln Grandstand Community Centre and I wish them the best of luck in finding somewhere permanent.
"To me, a place of worship is a basic human right."
41 Comments
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by Julian, Slovenia
Monday, August 30 2010, 2:21AM
“If you don't like Lincoln's councillors using "parking problems" as an excuse for whitey to win you shouldn't try to have car boot sales at Westgate School to raise money to oppose their 1968 decision to raise your child's lead content from the time of his/her gestation.
Instead you should go and have car boot sales somewhere else.”
by Shep, Lincoln
Friday, August 27 2010, 5:41PM
“To Barry Briggs and Bob Jackson, you do not speak for the "people of Lincoln" despite what you both claim. You may well share the same racist opinions as others in your little world of right-wing pillocks but there is a bigger world out there and you are not our representatives.
This is not a victory for racism - it's a victory for a sensible planning process.”
by Jean, Church Drive
Friday, August 27 2010, 4:19PM
“Banging head against brick wall comes to mind! How are people from across the city and beyond to travel? Nobody has been able to stop anyone from using a car when it is the most convenient and quickest way for them to travel.
READ THE PLANNING INSPECTOR'S REPORT!
Any owner can put a restriction on the use of a property when they sell it. I believe an original one on mine was that nobody could sell alchohol from here! However the Diocese could agree to a change of use for the site and I think would be willing, although probably not for a commercial enterprise. Community use is something else.”
by J, Lincoln
Friday, August 27 2010, 10:04AM
“My thoughts exactly. If this was all about parking, why not search for a solution to this? Rather than full stop no mosque, how about looking to help? The residents say they hope the muslim community find somewhere suitable and really want them to have a place to worship, why not help them have this site and work on ways they won't need to park there?”
by Joe, Lincoln
Friday, August 27 2010, 10:02AM
“ok emma, i now give up on voicing my opinion on here as it gets forgotten that its an opinion. im not trying to start a heated debate or anything, but i think putting a mosque and an area where they live is better because it saves on the congestion, pollution etc. why not built one on a site where it is with in walking distance for them? its just i live fairly close to the site where it was applied for and i never see many (if any) muslims around there so there would have been a good amount of cars travelling to and from there.”
by Gnome Chomsky, Boultham Park Road
Thursday, August 26 2010, 10:38PM
“The current plan is rejected.
The site is limited to religious use. Any temple, church, mosque or synagogoe will attract worshippers, thus car parking.
Moslems own the site. They could buy a cheap site on brownfield land, such as behind Dawson's Belts / Becor House and run a park'n'ride to the mosque: 1 coach lane rather than parking spaces. No parking, no objection,
Or would the locals prefer to be overrun with coypu / capybara, rather than money spenders?”
by Jean, Church Drive
Thursday, August 26 2010, 7:34PM
“How many of those who think traffic and parking issues are an excuse for racism have visited the area? Do so - and imagine up to 100 cars arriving at the same time and trying to park on the streets. Find me enough off street parking for residents, never mind visitors.
How many of you have read ANY of the documents in this case? The Planning Inspectorate made an objective decision, based on planning policy, to dismiss the appeal. You can find the decision document here:
http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?casename=APP/M2515/A/10/2125965&caseaddress=COO.2036.300.8.345478
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Copy and paste it into your browser if you are really interested in the facts. Follow 'Decision.'
I know there will be those who, narrow minded in their own way, prefer to remain in ignorance of the truth, finding it too mundane. To those, I say believe what you will and enjoy your self-righteousness.”
by Emma, Lincoln
Thursday, August 26 2010, 4:47PM
“And I'll repeat my point, Joe. There isn't an area in Lincoln that has a higher percentage of Unitarians than anywhere else, so according to your logic their chapel on High St. can't be justified. However, it can be justified because it gets used regardless of where the congregation lives.”
by John, Lincoln
Thursday, August 26 2010, 4:45PM
“So really you want them all to move into one place firstly? But that is what people are scared of, for some reason. Regardless, there clearly are enough people to warrant one because they have out grown the current one and they might also get more people converting and so would be good to have the space.”
by Joe, Lincoln
Thursday, August 26 2010, 4:14PM
“N.O & Emma,
i guess i didnt make my point very clear, i didnt mean the polish example in a religous way, i meant that they have there shops in the areas where alot of them live, as in the way i mean i think it would better if a mosque was built in an area where there are alot more people residing near by are of the same faith. like in swansea the area of the city where there is a high percentage of muslims living, is where the mosque is. i personally dont think lincoln has an area where it is justifiable to have one.”