Refusal likely for Islam centre plan

PARKING problems looklikely to defeat plans for an Islamic community centre on Austin Fields Industrialestate in Lynn.

The West Norfolk Islamic Association wants permission to transformtwo business units into a new social, educational and religious facility for some 80 Islamic families in the area.Planning officers have recommended councillors refuse the project because of a lack of parking spaces, but the College of West Anglia saw its plans for an education centre next door approved earlier this year.

A report supporting the application said the centre, to be open sevendays a week, would offer religious services and instruction, educationfor all sections of the community and would help to integrate Muslimsinto the wider community.Maximum occupancy would be about 70 people – twice a year for Eidprayers and some four times a year for social events, the report said.

Functions, talks and meetings would mostly take place in the evening, although the proposed centre, next to Auto-glass, would also be used by around 50 people on Friday lunch times for Friday prayers.

The traditional call to prayer would be made by one person, inside the building, without a sound system.

"Most importantly, the proposal will provide a focal point for the Islamic community, rather than being spread around a number of locationswhich are proving inadequate for the growing need," the report concluded.

Only four to six parking spaces are available at the site, but the association said those visiting could easily walk or pay to park at Austin Fields.

But the Highways Authority objected because of the limited numberof spaces and doubted whether people would walk to the centre.

It said footways to the site were "poor to non-existent" and that thewalking route was "not inviting and conflict with commercial vehicles islikely to occur".The highways' response concluded: "Users of the centre will aim topark their cars within the industrial estate, rather than utilise the public pay car parks and the attempt the undesirable walk to the site.

"It is expected that an approval of the application would exacerbatethe existing ad-hoc parking arrangements to create excessive on-streetparking.

"The college's plans convert a former Polar Systems industrial unitinto a workshop for trainee plumbers, electricians and engineeringstudents were given temporary permission in January, when parkingissues were also raised.

A strict policy was introduced requiring students to park at the maincampus and walk to the workshop. Officers said the similarities betweenthe two applications were "not material" and the Islamic centrewould attract people from a larger catchment area.Managers could encourage walking to the site, but it could not becontrolled in the same manner as the college's policy, the report said.West Norfolk Council's development control board is due to discussthe application at a meeting today (Monday).