United Kingdom’s North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee has approved plans to build a new mosque in Scunthorpe despite a number of objections from local Muslim groups. The application was passed by a majority verdict.

Phil Wallis, head of planning, said the council had received two petitions – one with 55 signatures objecting to the development and one with 499 objecting on the grounds of design concerns about traffic and parking.

“We have also received a letter of objection on behalf of the five mosques in North Lincolnshire. They said there is not enough car parking to cope with the events and the design is very prominent and will create tension,” he said.

Roj Rahman

Objecting to the application, Roj Rahman said:

“I am speaking on behalf of 3,000 Muslims. There is no further need for another mosque, this design will have a massive visual impact. The proposed new build will be heavily visible and it will have a significant impact on the Muslim community.”

Councillor Mashook Ali

Councillor Mashook Ali said Newland Drive residents had raised objections to him about anti-social behaviour.

“I would like the planning committee to go against the recommendation of the planning officer (to pass it),” he said.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Association applied to build a mosque on the site of a bungalow in Cliff Closes Road currently used by the group for worship.The existing property has been used as a mosque since 2002 but the group want to the replace the “dated and dilapidated” property with a purpose-built mosque with living accommodation for the religious leader.

President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Scunthorpe, Muzaffar Ahmad, said the association has bought the neighbouring bungalow which has some open space that will be used for parking.

Mr Ahmad told the meeting: “A few people have objected on the grounds there are already mosques in the town. We are not allowed to pray in these mosques as they do not consider us Muslim.