Really No Need For This

The use of Hamptons for daily prayers by the Chelmsford Muslim Society (CMS), is a clear challenge to our weak city council, who are terrified of being called Islamophobic, should they dare take enforcement action.

TESTING THE WATERS

Despite not having planning permission or a CLEUD, the Chelmsford Muslim Society are just pushing on with their plans to create “the biggest mosque in Essex ''. And the publicity stunts keep on coming, in an attempt to create some positive publicity for the venue, and to act as a smokescreen for what’s really happening.

Everything they’ve done so far, has been an attempt to fly under the radar, and bit by bit they’ve increased the use for worship and religious education.

Even the use of the main hall for Friday prayers during Covid, was once again CMS taking advantage of the situation. It was no coincidence that the “temporary use “ started on the very day of the 2020 Eid Ul Adha festival (July 31st), and despite the pandemic restrictions being lifted, the use still continues nearly 18 months later.

SOFTENING THE COUNCIL UP

It’s something we first saw during Ramadan 2021, when worshippers turned up daily to pray, even at quite anti-social hours, causing a degree of noise and disturbance to the residential amenity. CMS even had a volunteer in the main car park, ushering cars to park round the back, to avoid detection.

The council predictably then allowed that specific use for prayers during a festival period, as part of the limited use permitted under the current planning permission.

An image sent to us, proving the current breach of planning control

The most current breach of planning control involves less than a dozen worshippers, and no doubt CMS will be claiming that:

it causes no harm to the residential amenity
anyone who wants to stops them praying must be a racist

But it is a breach of planning control, based on the city council’s 2020 legal ruling on this exact use. And a breach is a breach, and should be subject to enforcement like everyone else is.

REPORT THE BREACH FOR A “CHANGE OF USE” HERE

No doubt the council will start churning out excuses about “proportionate responses”, receiving plenty of support from the pro-diversity Lib Dem councillors.

It’s just a shame there are no “pro-sports and leisure” champions at the council, or anyone willing to stand up for resident’s rights.

IS THERE A REAL NEED FOR DAILY PRAYERS AT HAMPTONS

And the short answer is no. The real reasons for daily prayers at Hamptons are:

to establish the use
to soften up the council

And we’re not in a situation, where stopping daily prayers would impune the human rights of the worshippers.

Could the daily worshippers be accommodated at the Parkway Mosque ? Of course they could.

And it’s something that's happened since the 1980’s, without most residents even noticing the mosque was there.

Is the Parkway mosque Covid compliant ? Yes it is VIDEO

THE REAL HARM

This continued rule bending does no service to the standing of the Muslim community, and has pretty much destroyed the business side at Hamptons.

Potentially the whole £2.35 million investment could be lost if the business continues on its current trajectory

And let’s not forget, it’s possible that the council may decide to enforce against this latest breach.

IS IT REALLY WORTH IT FOR JUST A DOZEN DAILY WORSHIPPERS ?

KBO