Opinions split over Shrewsbury Muslim prayer centre
Plans for a Muslim prayer centre in a Shropshire town have split local opinion, prompting hundreds of letters of objection and support.
More than 370 letters have been sent to Shropshire Council over proposals by the Shropshire Bangladesh Welfare Society to turn Shrewsbury's former register office into a prayer centre and community room.
The Column Lodge site, in Preston Street, was sold to the group by the council in a deal worth £215,000.
A total of 205 people have objected to the change of use, with 166 in favour.
Some residents say the application, together with developer Taylor Wimpey's plans to build 400 homes on a greenfield site nearby, could lead to an "unacceptable" rise in traffic levels.
Businesses also say limited parking could have a damaging effect on trade, while some objectors say there is just "no need" for the centre.
Objector Roy Edwards said there were lots of other uses the building could have that would benefit residents.
Resident Laura Durose said: "Whilst many are turning this argument into an unnecessary debate on ignorance etc it is nothing of the sort.
"The simple facts are that a centre of this nature has an impact on the local people due to the congestion it creates from additional traffic and parking and also an impact on the residents' quality of life due to the frequency and times of the prayer sessions."
Mrs Durose added: "These factors make the centre an unviable location and one that should not be approved."
And Geoffrey Hall added: "Both Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council know the feelings of the residents of Preston Street and Weirhill, who are presently fighting the proposed development by Taylor Wimpey which will involve a further increase in traffic congestion.
"To bring further traffic to the area will be totally unacceptable."
But many residents have backed the proposal and said traffic problems were being overstated. Chloe Jones, who lives close to the building, said: "I would be delighted for Shrewsbury to become more multicultural. As for objections on the basis of parking worries, I don't really see why the number of cars would be any different from the wedding traffic previously."
Paola Alessandri-Gray added: "There are no genuine reasons to turn down the application of a large minority group in our town, apart from what are varying degrees of racism."
