Muslim faith centre expansion plans approved despite parking and traffic fears
Plans to expand a Muslim faith centre have been approved despite opposition from residents who say it is already causing parking and traffic chaos.
The Manarat Foundation overcame an online petition as it turns a disused car workshop on Coventry Road in Sheldon into an education, community and prayer centre.
The original application was waved through early last year despite objections after the charity said it had outgrown its old venue.
The foundation will now be able to add a larger rear extension, change the roof design and make alterations to the car park.
The charity will also be able to host Eid prayer celebrations twice a year at their centre further along at 155 New Coventry Road.
The plans were granted by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday (02/03) subject to 10 conditions, including the development of a car park management plan.
Residents had opposed the expansion, including through an online petition signed by 1,800 people.
One local resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There is already traffic and parking disruption around the current facility, as users flout the law and drive along the pavements, leaving their cars across the footpath, or using adjacent houses driveways to park on.
“This clearly demonstrates a total lack of available parking around the facility.
“Local residents and businesses have already been affected by the parking, with local businesses having customers turned away by the foundation’s own parking marshals.”
The resident provided videos which he claimed show the parking problems.
The charity is currently fundraising for the ongoing expansion of the masjid, which it says on its website will be a “multi-purpose” centre providing an “essential service” to the Muslim community.
Professor Kabir Uddin, of the foundation, responded that an agreement had been put in place with neighbours to use shared public spaces for Friday prayers and marshals were on hand during busy times.
He said: “Parking was an issue at the start but we have been addressing that and the planning department is quite happy. We have a marshal team to deal with it and since then we have not had any problems.
“We are maximising the spaces we have and have an agreement with some of the neighbours to use parking spaces on Fridays.
“We know the neighbours had worries before but we have checked with them and they are happy now. The application was for minor alterations.”
Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/muslim-faith-centre-plans-approved-12687828