Mosque work approval to 'help women'

MARKAZI Jamia Masjid Nusrat-Ul-Islam Mosque

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A CONTROVERSIAL mosque extension, which will be vital in the empowerment of Muslim women - according to a former Labour councillor - has been approved.

Arooj Shah, who was St Mary's ward councillor until the local elections this May, claimed at last night's planning meeting that the development to Nusratul Islam Mosque, in Pitt Street, Glodwick, would help tackle segregation and misogyny in the local area.

The mosque applied for a first floor gable roof extension, which would be a women's prayer hall, a two-storey side extension to provide a fire escape, and a first-floor side extension with under-croft car-parking.

Planning officers had recommended refusal. They wrote in their report: "The proposal, by reason of its scale, massing, sitting and design, in relation to properties fronting Morris Street and Pitt Street, would be significantly detrimental to the residential amenity of current and future occupiers.

"In particular, the proposals would result in a visually intrusive, over-dominant and oppressive form of development, and the proposed first floor windows to the rear elevation would seriously undermine the privacy of properties fronting Morris Street."

Cllr Shadab Qumer has requested the application to be considered at planning committee. A petition containing 29 signatures was received by the council in support of the application.

Miss Shah dismissed the planning officer's concerns and said it would not result in more traffic as it would only be used by local people.

She said: "I must stress, it's one of the few facilities across the borough that encourages and empowers women. It will encourage them to leave the home. I'm here to make a point for women."

However, Cllr Rod Blyth cited the various parking problems outside several mosques in Oldham.

He said: "I've been on Pitt Street and I couldn't get down it. I disagree that you will get people travelling as a family. They don't. They're working and go in the car. Then they go back in a car.

"It's not just this mosque. It's nearly every mosque.

"There's one in Shaw ­- on Friday it's so full. There are cars everywhere."

Worthy

Both councillors Shadab Qumer and Javid Iqbal said that peak mosque times were for the afternoon Friday prayers and that is because people working in and out of the area will come and use the mosque. Most of the time, they said, there are no parking issues around the mosque.

Also citing traffic concerns, Cllr Steve Bashforth said: "It's a worthy building and they do fabulous work. But we must consider the people around there when we make a decision on this.

"We have many buildings to come to use and said they're a worthy cause. People don't come in buses or walk, they come in cars and it would cause problems to people there."

The application was approved, against officers' refusal, by seven councillors, with six voting against.