Revised plans to turn a former Victorian pub into a mosque on a “trial basis” have been refused despite receiving almost 250 letters of support.
Charity Al-Haqq Academy’s scheme for The Peacock, in Gravesend, was discussed at a planning meeting on Wednesday (July 30), where it was recommended for approval.
Gravesham council officers advised the committee to grant temporary planning permission to allow the ground floor be converted into a mosque for around 65 worshippers and religious instruction for 30 children.
They claimed the scheme would have “no detrimental impact on the surrounding townscape, character of the area, parking and highway safety”.
However, resident of Peacock Street, Ektaveen Thandi, disagreed stating parking is a “daily battle” and claimed the current agreement would not survive the added pressure.
Speaking against the plans at the meeting, she said: “This is not about religion. If this were a proposal for a large community centre of any kind, religious or not, we would be raising these same objections.
“This is not about faith. This is about function and the unsuitability of Peacock Street.
“Planning legislation and frameworks are useful, but this decision goes beyond box ticking. It is about nuance, context, and lived experience.
“If this application is approved, the people who actually live on the street will carry the burden every single day.”
However, those behind the plans for the building on the junction of St Andrew’s Road and Peacock Street argued Islamic tradition promotes walking to the mosque, so there would be minimal disruption.
Speaking in its favour, Haris Kasuji emphasised that it would cause no greater disturbance to its neighbours than the pub would have, even with people using it as early as 4am.
He said: “These are people who are waking up in the middle of the night to go and worship. These people are going to pray to their Lord.
“They are not the type of people who are going to be causing disturbances, because that is something that will weigh heavily on their own conscience.
“There are mosques up and down the country, and it is not a problem anywhere else, so I cannot see that they would be a problem here.”
He also explained there is an under-provision of Muslim facilities in the area, with other mosques being forced to hold prayers in their car parks due to the high number of worshippers.
Chairman of the Central Mosque in Gravesend, Ansar Rafiq, added: “The demand for such provision has increased significantly as a local population has grown.
“This is a necessary development that serves a specific local community need without compromising local amenity.”
Questions were asked about how many worshippers who would use the mosque if there are 3,000 Muslims living in the borough, but Mr Kasuji said they only expect around 20 people to attend each prayer.
He added: “There is a large Muslim population, and in the same way that there is a large Christian population, not all Christians go to church every Sunday, but you still have a number of churches in the area.”
Although not disagreeing that another mosque is needed, councillors decided that this was not the “right place” for one.
Non-board member and leader of Gravesham council, Cllr John Burden (Lab), said: “We have a community that is growing here, one that we value and has brought a lot of good things to Gravesham.
“We have more than 3,000 people who are of the Muslim faith and they deserve somewhere to worship together collectively.
“However, this is not the location in my opinion. I think it is too much in a tightly packed residential area.”
Planning committee member, Cllr Aaron Elliott (Con) added: “I love that we are providing opportunities for worship to our local communities. I am also pleased that historic building is being preserved rather than falling into a state of disrepair.
“Like some others though, I am concerned about whether this is in the right place. I am not sure it is as much as I would love to support it.”
Cllr Samir Jassal (Con) also said he did not think there was an accurate grasp on the number of people who would attend the mosque and as such, could not support the plans.
He added: “Historically, this has always been a bit of a gridlocked area and with the residential properties there, we need to really make sure that we are also looking after the residents.
I am concerned about whether this is in the right place. I am not sure it is as much as I would love to support it
“My issue is again about the location, not about the use or the value of what the Muslim community bring to Gravesham.
“It is simply that I do not think that area and that particular building can house the large numbers and I do not think we have an accurate steer on the numbers.”
The application was unanimously rejected and delegated to the head of planning to refuse permission.
This is the second time the charity’s scheme to convert the ground floor of The Peacock have been refused.
Original plans to change the use into a religious academy with community services, including a prayer hall, a food bank, a youth club, and a mosque, were rejected in October.
To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.
In September, a separate application from Al-Haqq Academy, which is based in Queen Street, was approved
to convert the first and second floors of the former boozer into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
The charity offers services such as a food bank, counselling, prayer sessions, and a youth club for everyone.
