Muslim faith centre expansion approved despite parking fears

PLANS to expand a Muslim faith centre in Birmingham 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 in Sheldon into an education, community and prayer centre.

Despite objections, the original application was waved through early last year after the charity said it had outgrown its old venue on Coventry Road.

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 the centre further along at 155 New Coventry Road.

The plans were granted by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee subject to ten conditions, including the development of a car park management plan.

Residents had opposed sion, including through the expanan online Change.org 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.”

Professor Kabir Uddin, of the foundation, said 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.” petition signed by 1,800