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Council approves plans for mosque
Thursday 2nd July 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Proposals to extend a mosque in the Black Country and build three minarets have been approved by council planners despite concerns over traffic.
The Bangladeshi Muslim Welfare Association has been allowed to build a third-storey extension at Halford’s Lane Mosque in Smethwick.
The size of the prayer room will be almost doubled and three 14ft high minarets will be put on the roof.
Paramjit Sehdeva, agent for the association, told Sandwell Council’s planning committee that there would be no more people using the building than at present.
He said: “We are not looking for an increased membership.”
The plans were before the committee’s last meeting on May 27 where they elected to have a site visit. Three letters of objection and 16 emails of support were received.
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I think this is fantastic news for the local community who has been deprived in this ward of North Smethwick for a long time. All the users of the Masjid are local people and parking is more of an issue on football days than this Masjid on Friday prayers. There are many iconic buildings on Smethwick High Street and Soho Road Handworth (Gurdwara’s and Temples) which do not blend in with the environment but enhances the vision of a multi cultural society and surrounding. I’m surprised this Masjid hit the front page news dispute other planning approvals of religious building. I just hope making this Masjid the headline front page of express and star does not have a hidden agenda or stir trouble other than celebrating the good news of this planning approval.
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Be interesting to see if that membership does actually go up in a few months time..same for the traffic problems.
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Traffic problems have always been an issue in Smethwick/West Bromwich during match days at the W.B. Albion for up to 4-5 hours per match day disrupting the area with congestions and cues. The Masjid only has minor disruption of parking only for 45 mins max on Friday Prayers on Cambridge Road (Only) and never has any traffic flow disruption or congestion problems. As with the increase in memberships, The Masjid is open to the public without membership and every new building always attracts new people to see the Masjid to prayer and then settles down to normal.
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