Locals Support Converting Oxford Suburb House into Muslim Place of Worship
A total of 247 have supported the scheme, submitted by an applicant listed as Mr Faruq to Oxford City Council, for the retrospective plan for a property in Ashhurst Way in Rose Hill.
The property has been used as a place of worship by the Muslim community since July 2019.
In the scheme's planning statement, it said the original need for the new place of worship was due to the three mosques elsewhere in east Oxford, at Stanley Road, Bath Street and the Bangladesh Indian Center in Cowley Road being a long way from the Rose Hill area.
In addition to the supporting comments, 46 people had objected by Saturday, January 25.
Shahzad Yousaf, who lives in Stewart Street, said: “I support this application. As a driving instructor I have used this place of worship for the last three years.
"I have many students in the Rose Hill area and this location has been very convenient for me and other fellow driving instructors.”
Abeer Riaz, of Long Lane, added: “With my work and family commitments we need a walking distance local mosque to our religious duties. Please make this happen.”
Objector Robin Leigh, of Collinwood Road, Headington, said: “We must not kid ourselves that people will walk here, this will be open to anyone wishing to worship that religion and you will have many cars travelling around a residential area, with limited parking increasing pollution levels in the area also.
“The house in question was originally built as a residential property within a working class area, it has a peaceful ambience and still to this day retains that sense of community feeling which could be disrupted should this application be approved.
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“I feel that having a place of worship such as this is out of character with the surrounding area and may bring unrest between local people living within the vicinity.”
In the scheme's planning statement, it said: “The local Rosehill Muslim community have been worshipping at Ashhurst Way now for five years.
"During that time, they have been excellent neighbors and their use of the premises has largely gone unnoticed indeed, and not caused any known environmental or other such problems to the wider area.
“It has now become established as a precious and cherished community asset, that is well used on a daily basis by many worshippers.
"Its potential loss would have a devastating impact to the cultural benefits and general well-being of the local community.”
Source: oxfordmail.co.uk
