Mosque Application: Special Full Council Meeting, 7.00pm Camberley Theatre, Wednesday 10th March

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  I have heard from friends that there has been some more news on the mosque applications - does anyone know any more?

  By olgadapolga at 20:50 on 06/08/10

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  I missed the meeting due to parental duties - couldn't even get to see it online - I hear that the meeting was very well conducted.  Think the right decision was made on balance - I think there are better locations for a mosque around Camberley.

  By olgadapolga at 18:58 on 11/03/10

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  The Save Our School campaign - SOS - started after the planning committee of SHBC went against the recommendations of their professional planning officers and granted the applications to demolish the Yorktown/National School latterly known as St Gregory's, and build a new mosque in the traditional Arabic style, including 100 foot minarets. The purpose of SOS has been to bring to the attention of Camberley residents that the council has breached various local area and national planning guidelines in granting the application. The committee came to this unprecedented decision without reference to any planning rationale, which is another contravention.
  The history of the school is that it was built in 1871 and has therefore served the community for over 100 years and is still cherished by former pupils and their families. It is a locally listed building, forming part of a conservation area. When St Gregory's needed to expand in 1996, the school was closed and staff and pupil moved to a larger purpose made school and the school was sold at what would be considered a low price to the Bengali Welfare Association, because of the restrictions relating to development of the site due to the listed conservation area status. An Islamic centre, including a mosque, was established.
  Despite this, in 2002 planning permission was granted to expand the facilities of the mosque towards the rear of the building but on the understanding that the front façade would not be changed. Work started on new foundations but work was stopped completely some 3 years ago when a new Association committee came into power at the mosque. In 2009 plans were submitted to demolish the Victorian listed building and build the new mosque, incidentally, with no more prayer space than facilitated by the expansion plans already granted permission.
  Through procedural errors the council cannot ratify the decision of the planning committee and it has been decided to hear the applications before the full council to be voted on using correct procedures on 10 March at the Camberley Theatre to a maximum of 400 seats. Tickets will be available on a first come first served basis, regardless of where people come from or live.
  The petition objecting to the applications is currently standing at over 4500 with letters and emails of objection pouring into the council offices. Anyone wishing to add their objections should email no later than Tuesday to brian.townley@surreyheath.gov.uk using the following:
  
  I OBJECT to planning applications 2009/0598 and 0599 on the following grounds:-
  1. The current building is locally listed and in a conservation area
  2. The proposed new buildings are out of keeping with the surrounding area
  3. The proposed plans would be overdevelopment of the site
  4. Granting planning permission breaks local, area and national planning guidelines
  
  Sorry this is such a long post but it is important that the facts are known. The community of Camberley including the small Muslim community, has lived in harmony and respect for each other for many years since the first days when the Adult Education Centre in France Hill Drive was used for prayers. Unfortunately, the current applicants have not, by their own admission, considered any other possible sites in Camberley, nor had they consulted with local resident

  By captbeefheart at 22:23 on 07/03/10

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  It sounds as though there will be lots of people at Camberley Theatre on Wednesday.  I have just been reading the Save St. Greg's Facebook page and they say that some people will be there from 2.00 in the afternoon.

  By kimmie2010 at 18:14 on 05/03/10

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  It will be interesting to see what happens at Wednesday's meeting.  I know alot of people who have said they want to go along.  I believe that most people are tolerant of others and their beliefs, but it is the vocal extreme views that get heard and this starts to harden even the most concilatory souls.  Why is there no place for a non-Muslim child or teacher in a Muslim school? Why are they not welcome?

  By olgadapolga at 17:23 on 04/03/10

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