Muslims urge planners to approve mosque in Lincoln
MUSLIMS living in Lincoln have urged planners to approve proposals for a mosque and supermarket at a former dairy site.
A 451-signature petition has been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council along with scores of comments in favour of the plan, off Boultham Park Road and Dixon Street, Lincoln.
Several people said they will be walking or cycling to the mosque if it is approved.
This could mitigate fears the area will struggle to cope with increased traffic resulting from the development.
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City resident Zejd Sidini said: "I live near the Boultham Park Dairy site. This is great news for me and my family as we will use both the supermarket and mosque."
Architect Abd Lateef Bello, of Venables Way, Lincoln, said he had travelled to towns and cities of similar sizes to Lincoln, which had "beautiful religious centres catering for its citizens".
He said: "It is highly embarrassing that a big cosmopolitan town like Lincoln should still be debating such an issue despite calls for integration of community members."
But residents in the Boultham area are strongly opposing the development on noise, traffic, flooding and planning policy issues.
Alternatives suggested for the land include using it all for houses.
Concerns include the junction of Dixon Street and Boultham Park Road being unable to cope with extra vehicles.
Parking spaces for 140 vehicles are planned for Lidl and the mosque. Houses are also proposed for the site.
Councillor Kev Clarke, Lincolnshire County Council member for Boultham, suggested building new slip roads to improve access and traffic flow.
He said: "From Dixon Street bridge, you could form a slip road either side and move the path to the other side of the slip road. This way Dixon Street will act like a holding street for traffic."
The applicant, Lincolnshire Co-operative, is also being asked to provide more details for the proposal.
The Environment Agency said it will object as the application does not demonstrate the site is safe from a flood risk.
Kenneth Pratt, engineer to the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board, asked for more information on sewer discharges and surface water run-off.
He said: "The site lies in an area considered to be at risk of flooding yet no mention is made of this by the applicant."
City council pollution control officer, Ian Wicks, also suggested noise and light pollution could be an issue for people living at any new houses built at the site. He is asking for more details on how this will be controlled.
A public consultation is closed, with the city council hopeful its planning committee will make a decision next month.
The Islamic Association Of Lincoln has been searching for a new permanent mosque for several years.
Rising numbers meant it needed to expand beyond a mosque in Orchard Street, Lincoln, with the Grandstand in Carholme Road becoming a temporary solution.
The group wanted to create a purpose-built mosque on the site of St Matthew's, an old tin church in Church Drive, off Boultham Park Road, which burned down in 2008.
Planners rejected the project in October 2009 after residents raised concerns about traffic problems and parking.
Comments
by bath_spa
Tuesday, August 16 2011, 12:36PM
“When I can go into a Muslim country and build a Church, you can come into Lincoln and build a mosque!”
by Bicksy
Saturday, August 13 2011, 1:01PM
“An interesting read and I hope that the Echo don't remove it as it has links to other sites - "We hope we have now resolved all the issues and concerns raised by local residents" Is that so? Reading some of what I've read below, I'm not sure that's the case but I could be wrong - "We looked at a number of sites in the city and decided that this was the most suitable" Okay, so it would be good to hear from Dr Tanweer Ahmed, of the association so that some of the questions and concerns below can be answered. "This entry was posted on Monday, June 20th, 2011 and is filed under Islamic Colonisation, Islamification, Mosques, Religion." I think that although these are just sections of a website, it's terminology might make people of Lincoln feel a bit uneasy as it did me.
Sources: http://tinyurl.com/3d589u9 http://tinyurl.com/3wtxecj”
by Bill_And
Friday, August 12 2011, 12:47PM
“Glasgow is always portrayed as a city full of bigots, yet in the city centre on the banks of the clyde is a huge islamic centre and mosque with large domed roof - it has been there for decades now
Christian churches are present in many non christian countries round the world, in cities such as Baghdad, Jerusalem, Singapore...
so, lighten up people, this wont be a centre for the education of radicalised terrorists - it will be a place of worship and faith for ordinary muslims”
by UncleNapoleon
Thursday, August 11 2011, 10:46PM
“@excallibur
St Paul's has a very large dome. I don't see why domes are all of a sudden considered "monstrosities".”
by UncleNapoleon
Thursday, August 11 2011, 10:44PM
“@mac743
Actually, Christians are highly evangelical (its a core tenant of the faith). Churches have been built across Africa, and the world. Christianity, a tiny sect originating along the Eastern Mediterranean(Contemporary Israel & Palestine), has spread to every continent of the world. Churches continue to be built in majority Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu countries across Asia and Africa. Your statement is highly historically inaccurate and even in the contemporary world it holds no barring on the reality of events.”
by mac743
Thursday, August 11 2011, 9:21PM
“STUFF RELIGION All it does is cause trouble. Now many conflicts or wars are based on religion????
If you do not want to worship in a church what England is built round then go do one. By all means worship at home but you shouldn't be aloud to have any other building built to worship in other than a church.
A christian couldn't go to another country and have a church built so why should any body who's not a christian be aloud a building to worship in??????”
by Bill_And
Thursday, August 11 2011, 9:20PM
“this country is built on tolerance, the map of the world was almost completely pink during the days of Empire.
I welcome the building of a Mosque in Lincoln - because I doubt such a fuss would be raised if the planning permission was for a house of worship for any other religion.”
by tommo007
Thursday, August 11 2011, 9:13PM
“@ Gnome_Chomsky
1) What has you working around the world got to do with anything? When you have worked in as many different countries as me then call me back!
2) I don't care if you miss me or not and i do no care what you think. Whether anyone wants me or not is my business not yours. Some people will care some won't big deal!
3) I am not racist. My wife is not from this country.
4) I have no problem paying taxes to help genuine asylum seekers. I do however object to paying your housing benefit get a job and pay your way like i do. I've never claimed a penny since i left school as i have always worked no matter how i liked the job or not!”
by Gnome_Chomsky
Thursday, August 11 2011, 8:40PM
“tommo007 - We don't know each other either, but I have worked around the world.
I won't miss you, but I doubt anybody else wants you either.
It would be great to hear that you have started a new life abroad, but I have my doubts.
I would rather pay taxes to help asylum seekers start a new and safe life than contribute to a company that pays you so much.”
by tommo007
Thursday, August 11 2011, 4:30PM
“@Matt_RET
I don't know you so in my life you don't exist! If you miss me or not matters not to me.”