A planning decision to demolish a mosque and replace it with a larger building has been delayed as councillors want to visit the site.
A report presented to Bury’s planning committee said the current mosque, on Bury Old Road, Prestwich, had ‘limited facilities’ and the building had deteriorated in recent years.
The proposed new building, to provide a place of worship, teaching space and community facilities will be three storeys in height and is bigger than the existing mosque.
The applicant, Prestwich Muslim Welfare Trust, said facilities would include a youth recreation room, library and community meeting space, a prayer hall, mortuary and separate male and female teaching rooms.
A total of A total of 1,180 representations were received by Bury council with 1,009 supporting the plans and 164 objecting
In addition a petition of 1,630 signatures was presented backing the plans.
Many of the objections related to parking.
One objector, said: “During prayer times, vehicles park at corners, block residential driveways, park on pavements and create hazardous conditions for other road users.”
A supporter of the scheme, said: “Keeping this mosque ensures continued contribution to education, charity, and social harmony, preserving diverse, inclusive, and thriving community for generations.
“There is only one other in Bury South within a six mile radius to serve the community.”
Several dozen members of the public attended the meeting in the expectation that a decision would be made.
However, the committee voted to defer the decision in order to visit the site ‘on a Friday’ to observe potential issues.
Chair of the committee, Coun Gareth Staples-Jones, said: “I suggest we do a site visit first and defer the application.
“We will do that on a Friday considering the objections and certain points that have been made.”
The committee unanimously agreed that course of action.
The planning report said the mosque had implemented a traffic marshal system for Friday prayers.
Typically around 100 top 150 worshippers attend the present site between noon and 3pm.
The applicant claimed that marshalling had ‘significantly reduced congestion’.
The plans stated that 20 parking spaces would be provided at the site.
There is also a nearby public car park which shares access off Bury Old Road.
The application is also subject to an agreement to secure a financial contribution towards additional parking enforcement officers.
The mosque site is close to houses on Woodthorpe Grange, Woodthorpe Court and Bury Old Road.
In the report planning officers concluded that there ‘would not be a significantly adverse impact on these neighbours in terms of overshadowing, loss of light or overbearing relationship’.
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