Mosque ignores council prayer ban: Legal loophole provides hope for Muslim group
A RELIGIOUS centre which was refused permission to become a place of worship can be used for prayer because of a legal loophole.
The Hafod Muslim Welfare Association has permission to use 1 Odo Street as a cultural and educational centre for the teaching of the Koran.
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The Hafod Muslim Welfare Association at 1 Odo Street
An application for retrospective permission to use the house as a mosque was turned down by Swansea Council last year on the grounds of noise pollution and parking problems.
However, following an appeal against that decision, the Welfare Association can continue to use the building for worship.
Chairman of the centre Foyzul Bari said: "We can carry on using the house as a place of worship.
"The planning application was with the council and now it's going to appeal. We have been using the building for worship for 22 years and it's been established since 1987.
"We had a lot of support for the application, with around 500 people supporting it."
The plan was turned down by the council due to fears over increased noise and disturbance, as well as lengthy hours of use and a lack of off-street parking.
It is believed complaints were first made to Swansea Council because residents were having trouble parking as more visitors started using cars.
But Mr Bari said only about five of the people attending prayers used cars and could not understand traffic problems being put forward as a reason for rejecting the application.
One resident said many people were coming and going at the building, blocking the pavement on the residential street.
Another said he had health and safety concerns about the number of people in the small terraced house, but no objection to what the building was used for.
"What if there was a fire with all those people there?" he added.
There were three individual letters of objection to the original planning application for change of use, a petition of objection containing 132 signatures and a petition of support containing 211 signatures.
A spokesman for Swansea Council said it was not illegal for the association to use the building for the use requested while an appeal was in place.
He added: "A planning application to change the use of 1 Odo Street from a centre for the teaching of the Koran to a place of worship was refused in November last year.
"The applicant has appealed against the decision to the planning inspectorate and a hearing will be held on July 1 in the Civic Centre," he said.
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by Jeff, Swansea, Wales
Sunday, June 20 2010, 7:36PM
“And by majority, I obviously meant minority. Unless that was a Freudian slip. In which case we're doomed, isn't that rather Heather?”
by Jeff, Swansea, Wales
Sunday, June 20 2010, 7:31PM
“@Heather, Mumbles
Explain your logic... behind my comment somehow incensing you enough to tell me to grow up... to how Muslims will takeover Wales and Britain with mosques when they are, and always will be a majority, with White British Christians overwhelming holding the positions of power... and how you, and your associated viewpoints, will ever gain ground when you cannot respond to inaccuracies in your arguments without resorting to personal insults, illogical rants and emboldened words that is basically saying "I'm right, fingers in ears lalala"?”
by Heather, Mumbles
Thursday, June 17 2010, 11:27PM
“Just *watch* and *wait*. You'll see!”
by Gaynor, Swansea
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 8:04PM
“How many of the posters on this forum actually regularly go to church to worship their God? How many of them actually do anything for their community? How many of them actually think of people whatever their colour, creed or religion as human beings? I do not go to church, pray or worship any God and I have been watering the gardens of neighbours who have been incapacitated through hospitalisation. And I look at other people as members of the human race.”
by hafod local, swansea
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 7:36PM
“I think this forum is flooded with BNP and WNP. Im just glad you lost all ur seats.”
by totally anonymous, Swansea
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 7:35PM
“Abi, Glais, I couldn't agree more. Heather keeps moaning about how people hide but you could make up any name, it doesn't show who you really are. I could put down my name is heather too for instance but heather who?. Perhaps she needs to stop hiding herself and put her full name down and stop being so two faced.
Back to the story, someone mentioned can't they use unused churches to do their praying, muslims will never ever use a church that belonged to another religion. I really don't see what the fuss is about, there are worst things happening in the world then kicking up a fuss over something as trivial as this. The council have done far worst. This is not even worthy of news, just the EP sh%t stirring yet again and getting people wound up and by god its worked big time.”
by Hafod Local, hafod, swansea
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 7:30PM
“Just want to clear a few things up for all the Haters on this forum. This Forum is for soley for the purpose of making comments on a property being used for a place of worship.
The property has permission for a School and has been used for the last 23 years.
The council refused planning permission for praying due to the potential parking issues and noise pollution. They accept that the property inside is suitable since its renovation a few years back.
If the independant finds that during its use there is not parking or noise issues there will not be any grounds for refusal.
Unlike most of the people commenting on here i actually know the people using this building and there has NEVER been any incidents or trouble with them regarding noise or parking.”
by Abi, Glais
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 6:58PM
“Just a quick point... Heather, you do realise that 'Heather, Mumbles' is just about as anonymous as 'The Oracle, Sketty'? Doesn't really narrow it down too much, lots of people are called Heather. This is a public site so I wouldn't advise anyone posting personal details including full names on here. Nothing wrong with using a username, I don't think it means someone is 'in hiding'.”
by Gareth, Ravenhill
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 6:05PM
“@ Hey Joe, Sweyne's Eye N/S means No Surrender tell u wot how about if they open a mosque next door to u and have them screaming or sorry praying all day and night how would u like that when you do feel free to comment N/S”
by Disappointed, Swansea
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 4:47PM
“Hey Joe, Sweyne's Eye, said, "A group of people submitted an application to the Council. The Council rejected the application.
The group lodged an appeal. Hardly a "legal loophole"."
Spot on! But it's hardly front page news either...!
Gerry Mander said, "Nothing like a mention of Muslims and Mosques to get the retarded local red-necks all uptight"
How right he his! The Evening Post will be featuring on Islamophobia Watch if it carries on sensationalising non-stories about Muslims and Mosques. It may help sell newspapers but it also sows the seeds of hate and division.”