Mosque plans for Gillingham
The car park
in Gillingham where a new mosque is planned
A mosque with a dome and minaret could soon be built next to
Gillingham railway station.
The plans have been lodged by the Kent Muslim Welfare
Association, whose headquarters are currently in Canterbury
Street.
Members launched a huge fundraising drive to bankroll a striking
new mosque on the site of the Croneens car park in Railway
Street.
Medway now has more than 5,000 Muslims, 2% of the entire
population, and the existing Canterbury Street centre can no longer
handle the numbers.
The association approached Medway Council and came to a deal to
use half of the pay-and-display car park.
Plans lodged with the council this week said: “The building will
be iconic and will make a positive contribution to the
location.”
One resident, Joaquim Rebello, is against the scheme.
He said: “Potentially large public numbers could exacerbate
parking and noise issues on festival and religious dates on already
stretched parking, given the already close proximity to the railway
station and church and school.”
More on this story in Monday’s Medway Messenger.
21/03/13
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