Mosque plan for Sandwell goes to appeal
A controversial application to convert a former solicitor’s office on Bearwood Road into a mosque is to be decided by a planning inspector after Sandwell councillors threw it out.
The appeal by the Gambian Islamic Centre comes after the local authority rejected an application in April to build a place of worship on Bearwood Road with 18 parking spaces.
Members of the planning committee unanimously supported recommendations to reject the scheme after council officers said the proposal was likely to cause "significant highway safety issues" as the venue would be used during peak times, where off-street parking is limited.
Officers also said that there would be increased noise nuisance to the neighbours.
The centre asked for permission to convert the building into a place of worship, which could accommodate 250 people.
But at the time, Mr Baba Njie, a committee member for the centre said he expected congregations for Friday prayers to be much smaller.
He said: “During the week, there would be only be up to 15 people in the building each day. On Friday, I would expect some 70 to 80 people will attend prayers and many will travel by public transport or walk.”
Councillor Bob Piper, in a newsletter sent to local residents after the appeal was lodged , said he was concerned the inspectorate had ignored the issue of parking when deciding on other past applications.
He said: “We have not had a very positive experience with the Planning Inspectorate of late.
“Similarly, much of the issue that has led to the opposition to this application for a place of worship centres around the already inadequate parking for residents in the area, and the hopeless levels of congestion it would cause on a working day.
“The planning committee unanimously rejected the application in April of this year, after hearing a number of submissions including those of the the police and officers from the the council’s own Highways department objecting on the grounds of parking and road safety.”
Councillor Piper added: “Although I have doubts about the Planning Inspectorate, I am hopeful they will giver a proper weight of evidence to the inappropriate location of this building for the purpose intended.”
