New city mosque backed despite objections

PLANS for a permanent mosque, community and education centre have been recommended for approval by Coventry City Council.

The Coventry Muslim Swahili Association has submitted an application to permanently change the use of a warehouse on 88 Paynes Lane.

Parts of the building have already been rented by the group for the past three years to hold religious programmes and education for children and adults.

The site would be used by up to 30 people a day, with 50 for Friday prayers.

Opening times would be between 8am and 9pm, with some early morning prayers at 5.30am and late evening prayers at 10.30pm.

There are also nine parking spaces in front of the building.

A design statement on behalf of the applicant states: “The main aim of the community is to protect the youngsters from unethical behaviour and tender help and support on mainstream education. The main aim of the organisation is to utilise this building for offering facilities for prayers to male and female members generally and run a supplementary school to preserve faith, cultural heritage and strive to close mismatch expectation gap of mainstream education.”

Planning officers have recommended it is approved when it goes to a committee on March 14. However, 80 letters of objection have been received, stating it will provide additional traffic congestion and demand for on-street parking, lead to additional litter in the area and cause noise pollution. Objectors also say the mosque is not suitable in a residential area.

But a report from council officer Nigel Smith said: “The site has historically been used for warehouse/office purposes and there is a car repair garage adjacent and a carpet warehouse and industrial units to the west of Paynes Lane at this point, therefore the area is in mixed use and to describe it as a residential area is not accurate. The applicant has provided information regarding the catchment of the facility and nearly all users live in the Hillfields area. An assessment has been made of Hillfields local centre and there are no available suitable buildings which could accommodate the use.”