Plans for Harrogate mosque attract 100 commentsA proposal to open Harrogate’s first mosque has attracted 100 comments ahead of a decision by Harrogate Borough Council.
Residents have until Sunday, February 6 to have their say. So far 56 people have written in support while 40 people have written to object.
Planning applications rarely receive as many comments.
The objections highlight concerns about traffic, parking and the fact that the building is a non-designated heritage asset.
Households across Harrogate have reported receiving anonymous leaflets through their doors encouraging them to oppose the plans with a guide on how to word the objection.
Supporters dispute the concerns. They say there is enough parking nearby and that it would be good to see the building brought back into use.
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the Harrogate Islamic Association (HIA) revealed that it wants to convert the former Home Guard club into a place of worship.
The HIA was established in 2011 and has been looking for a permanent place to convert into a mosque for years. Other attempts to find a home have fallen through.
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Around 100 worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.
Zahed Amanullah, from the HIA, told the Stray Ferret that they hope to run religious, community and charitable events at the building.
It would also support Syrian and Afghan refugees who have moved to the area. He added:
“We thought this is our best chance to have somewhere in the town centre. The location is fantastic.
“We recognise its historical value and we want to be mindful of that when we restore the building. We will retain its period features. We’re not going to put a minaret up or anything like that, it’s needed as a space. Nothing will be added.
“We see ourselves as part of the fabric of the town. We’re all in Harrogate because we love Harrogate. We have a very diverse community of Muslims from Asia, Africa and England, but the nearest mosque is more than 15 miles away.
“It’s a rare vacant spot where there are no facilities for the community and it will easily handle our weekly needs.”
Police recommend extra security for Harrogate mosquePolice have told the Muslim organisation planning to open the Harrogate district’s first mosque to include extra security measures due to safety fears.
Harrogate Islamic Association has applied for planning permission to convert the former Home Guard club on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Place into a place of worship.
As part of the planning process, the council consults some organisations to see if they lend support, recommend refusal or suggest alterations.
North Yorkshire Police has submitted a designing out crime report, which says the main crime associated with mosques is racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.
It suggests that the plans include external lighting, iron railings, laminated glass, CCTV and intruder alarms.
Police also suggest an external post box to prevent arson.
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The mosque faces opposition from a leaflet campaign and Bristol planning expert Gavin Boby, who calls himself the Mosquebuster.
But many people posted supportive comments on social media when the Stray Ferret reported the opposition yesterday.
Harrogate Civic Society has also lent its support after rejecting two previous proposed sites for the mosque.
Henry Pankhurst, on behalf of the civic society, said:
“We are very hopeful that the building will be able to take its place, once repaired and refurbished, as a worthy neighbour to all of the notable nearby properties.
“Railings should be erected as above and windows should be of a design which is suitable for this historic building and the conservation area.
“Every care should be taken to preserve historic features internally as well as externally.”
Harrogate Islamic Association hopes to see off anti-mosque campaignHarrogate Islamic Association has said it is confident of seeing off an anti-mosque campaign fronted by a Bristol-based planning expert who calls himself the “Mosquebuster”.
Gavin Boby takes credit for the rejection of 47 out of 73 planning applications for UK mosques he has contested in the last 10 years.
In his latest video, Mr Boby said plans to convert the former Home Guard club on Harrogate’s Tower Street into a mosque “get under his skin”. He then goes on to make comments about the plan many would deem to be Islamophobic.
Mr Boby, who according to the Daily Mail has the support of the far-right English Defence League, suggests that people emphasise concerns about parking, traffic and pollution when objecting to plans for the mosque.
Since the start of the anti-mosque campaign, households across Harrogate have reported receiving leaflets through their doors encouraging them to oppose the plans with a guide on how to word the objection.
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Harrogate Islamic Association, which is behind the plans for the new mosque, which would be the first in the Harrogate district, has received one of the leaflets and addressed the concerns raised on its social media channels.
Zahed Amanullah, from HIA, told the Stray Ferret:
“Harrogate is a tolerant and welcoming place. That is why we live here and why I do not think a campaign like this will work here.
“For the most part when we have seen comments from Harrogate residents they are supportive. It’s people from outside the area who seem to object the most.
“I think this campaign and these leaflets will backfire on those who oppose the mosque. Residents who have received a leaflet have been in touch to tell us that they will now officially support our plans.”
The consultation period for the mosque plans on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning portal ends on Sunday, February 6.
Harrogate’s first Mosque could open at former Home Guard clubHarrogate’s first-ever Mosque could open at the former Home Guard club on Tower Street.
Plans have been submitted by the Harrogate Islamic Association (HIA) to convert the building, which was also a Victorian hospital, into a place of worship for Muslims.
The HIA was established in 2011 and has been looking for a permanent place to convert into a Mosque for years. Other attempts to find a home have fallen through.
Around 100 worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.
Zahed Amanullah, from the HIA, told the Stray Ferret that they hope to run religious, community and charitable events at the building. It would also support Syrian and Afghan refugees who have moved to the area.
Harrogate Islamic Association
The building had been on the market for £500,000 and Mr Amanullah said the HIA will have to raise funds to complete the purchase, which is subject to planning permission.
He said:
“We thought this is our best chance to have somewhere in the town centre. The location is fantastic.
“We recognise its historical value and we want to be mindful of that when we restore the building. We will retain its period features. We’re not going to put a minaret up or anything like that, it’s needed as a space. Nothing will be added.
“We see ourselves as part of the fabric of the town. We’re all in Harrogate because we love Harrogate. We have a very diverse community of Muslims from Asia, Africa and England, but the nearest mosque is more than 15 miles away.
“It’s a rare vacant spot where there are no facilities for the community and it will easily handle our weekly needs.”
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Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam told the Stray Ferret that the building has historical importance to Harrogate. It was originally the town’s second hospital from 1873 until 1883 before being used as Harrogate’s first custom-built Masonic Hall.
It was also where Harrogate’s Crimean War hero Sgt Major Robert Johnston died.
With the advent of the Second World War in 1939, the local Home Guard began using the building as a social club to relax with a drink and play snooker.
Since 1987, the ground floor has been used by various businesses including Sweet Tooth Munchies.
According to a letter from a former Home Guard club member that is contained within planning documents, the club was forced to disband and close the venue in 2015 because it did not have enough money to repair a leaking roof.
There have been two planning applications in recent years to demolish the building and build four flats in its place, but they were both withdrawn.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the latest planning application at a later date.
Harrogate Muslims identify new site for district’s first mosqueHarrogate’s Muslim community has identified a new site for the district’s first mosque after its initial location encountered difficulties.
The Harrogate Islamic Association had hoped to convert the former Nidderdale Children’s Resource Centre in Starbeck, as previously reported.
However, complications relating to change of use and parking has led the association to set its sights instead on a former church hall in Harrogate.
This former children’s centre in Starbeck was the first choice for the mosque.
The hall is attached to the Trinity Methodist Church on Park Drive close to the Stray and town centre.
FSS Property is advertising the former church hall as “well maintained” and “fully functional for its current intended use”.
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The 2,000 square foot building is on the market for £575,000, whereas the former children’s centre in Starbeck was expected to cost about £425,000.
Zahed Amanullah, from the HIA, told the Stray Ferret he was hopeful it would have enough funds:
“We have been fortunate in that, even after we finished fundraising for our first mosque, people have been getting in touch to offer money.
“The biggest thing for us was to see that support from the community. We are confident that this new place will not be contentious.”
He added that although the former church hall does not have a garden or kitchen like the site in Starbeck, it has a bigger prayer space.
The Harrogate Islamic Association is growing in popularity.
The HIA, which started in 2011 and now has 100 members, began publicly fundraising for £85,000 in September to achieve the shortfall in funds,
Its appeal currently has almost £102,000.
If all goes to plan Mr Amanullah hopes the group will be able to open the mosque around March to April next year in time for Ramadan.
Harrogate’s Muslim community raises £85,000 for first MosqueHarrogate’s growing Muslim community has raised £85,000 to open the district’s first Mosque.
The Harrogate Islamic Association (HIA) normally meets in Christian churches or community centres but soon could have a space to call its own.
While the group does not expect to have a big meeting soon, it hopes to have the former Nidderdale Children’s Resource Centre in Starbeck ready for Ramadan next year.
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The group, which was established in 2011, has been looking for a place to convert into a Mosque for years until it found the “Goldilocks” building.
It was just the right size and the Muslim owner offered it to the group at a sizeable discount.
With 80% of the asking price already accounted for and a deadline of the end of September, the HIA went public with a fundraiser just a few weeks ago.
This former children’s centre in Starbeck could soon become a Mosque.
Zahed Amanullah, the fundraising campaign organiser, said the HIA saw an “amazing response” with some individuals donating thousands of pounds. He told the Stray Ferret:
“The building is perfect for us. We would only need to knock down one wall and decorate. We still need to get through planning but the dream is to have it open and in use by around March to April next year for Ramadan.”
The HIA plans for the Mosque to be a welcoming space for the entire community and has already had discussions with its future neighbours about how they could use it.