.... The group wants to demolish a listed Victorian school building in use as a mosque at the centre and replace it with a sprawling Saudi Arabian-style building. Planning papers reveal that the massive structure would tower over local buildings.
As well as the two minarets, it would feature a large central dome, five smaller outlying domes, a morgue, a library and a separate worship area for women. The first attempt at securing planning approval led to objections from 1,000 locals. Planning officers were also opposed but Conservative-dominated Surrey Heath gave the mosque the go-ahead last month.
However, a procedural error means the application now needs to go to a full council meeting for approval. [MailOnline] Read more
And just where do you think you're putting those minarets you 'orrible little man? .... 14 years ago the Bengali Welfare Association in the town bought an old Victorian former school (St Gregory's) to use for their mosque. The building is in a conservation area and is listed.
Now they have applied (and been granted) planning permission to knock the old building down and build what is described as a 'traditional' mosque with the dome and big minarets. Local people are outraged, both at the lost of the historic building and the likely increase of traffic etc from the new mosque. And, which they have to be careful articulating, the unease which the thought of dominating minarets gives them. [The Iconoclast] Read more
