YOUR correspondent (name and address supplied) comments on the Planning Committee’s discussion of the Azhar Academy’s application to remove conditions from the existing consent which limit its activities to those of an educational facility.

This follows breaches of those conditions which have resulted in several attempts at enforcement by the council.

It would seem that if you can’t enforce the conditions then just remove them.

His complaint misses the main point that removal of those conditions would allow the facility to operate ‘de facto’ as a mosque.

Councillor Morris insisted that it wasn’t to do with what the building was used for, it was about car parking.

I must disagree. It was and is everything to do with what the building is used for. The increase in the prayer room facility would cater for up to 180 persons rather than the 2-20 allowed in the original application with all the attendant consequences. These conditions were applied for the express purpose of preventing this happening.

There may be an argument for increased mosque ‘capacity’ across the borough but the operators of the Acadamy should have submitted a wholly new application to change its status to that of a mosque.

Then and only then would the impact on traffic, pollution, noise and amenity of the residents by properly scrutinised.

Paul Richardson

Ripon Close

Little Lever