by A group of Bulwell residents gathered in a room at the Riverside Center on Friday, April 12, to discuss their efforts to stop the proposed construction of a mosque in the town. About 30 people attended the 75-minute meeting to express their thoughts about the likelihood of the place of worship going ahead.
An application was submitted to Nottingham City Council in January to build the mosque, on vacant land behind Cinderhill Road. But the plan has caused consternation among locals, with one person at the meeting saying she felt “racist” for opposing the proposal.
She said: “I think we’re known as the local racists now. I’ve been told I’m a racist and it makes me feel like I don’t need a mosque. But I think we’re doing it. Driven out.
The meeting began with an apology in advance for coming to the committee. The chairman claimed she had “15 hours of sleep in the last five days” as she went through thick and thin to plan a way to stop the work from going ahead.
She said: “We are on our last legs. This has almost killed us. I have had about fifteen hours of sleep for the past five days. Look at our situation, for goodness’ sake. I have life but I I will be divorced next week.
Attendees were then given a paper agenda. On it was a list of the areas of concern and the reasons why the mosque would not be suitable for the area.
Committee members talked through the list, which referred to points such as traffic concerns, biodiversity issues and potential noise problems. They also cited the lack of Muslims in the Bulwell ward – claiming the population was 2.7% Muslim according to the 2021 census, compared to 38.8% in Hyson Green, 37.2% in Sneinton and 33.9% in Radford.
Afterwards, the floor was opened to members of the public, to ask questions – particularly Bulwell Labor councilors Maria Joannou and Michael Savage and Nottingham North MP Alex Norris, who were also present.
But Mr. Norris informed the group in no uncertain terms that their efforts and arguments were probably in vain. He told one of the three members of the anti-mosque transition committee that there was “no chance” they would win outright in their fight to stop the building from going ahead.
Many of the group agreed that the concept drawings of the building were “beautiful”, compared to the Taj Mahal in India. But they said his proposed site behind bungalows in the town was “completely wrong” and the building would “stick out like a sore thumb”, with one man saying the privacy will be “disappeared” and another saying that “he would take it all. the light of day”.
Despite the bitter pill spoken by the MP, it seems that many are not giving up.
One man argued that residents would have the same problem with putting “any religious establishment” there, as its size would be completely disproportionate to the site.
Another said: “It’s going to break up our community. We have a nice community around us and it’s going to go. It’s not fair.”
After the meeting, a number of residents spoke to Nottinghamshire Live. They argued that road safety was the “primary job”.
Jonathan Whyley, who has lived in the area for 26 years, said: “I’ve got nothing against Muslims. I think it’s in the wrong location with that road. The safety of the elderly is the reason for the increased traffic.”
And Colleen Clarke, who lives directly opposite where the mosque would go, said: “It already takes me 10-15 minutes to reverse my drive to Cinderhill Road sometimes. The traffic is absolutely terrible. One day the road will collapse the amount of cars on it.
“It’s dangerous as it is. But it seems (the planners and developers) only assessed it during the school holidays when it was quiet.”
The planning application submitted to the council stated that the ‘overall character’ of the complex is “a holistic sustainable place, which is peaceful and natural, and which takes advantage where possible of the surrounding landscape and natural features”. The design and access statement is as follows: “The community currently meets in Hucknall, at the Husami Markaz mosque, located in the former United Reformed Church on the corner of Portland Road and Henry Street.
“This [Hucknall] that there is a lack of space on the site for the growing number of members, inadequate parking, and the general unsuitability of the shape and orientation of the building for the ideal functioning of religious ceremonies.”
He continued: “It was essential for the trustees to find a site that was self-contained ensuring that disturbance to neighbors was minimized and that no outsiders would interfere with site users.”
No member of the mosque or the council’s planning department was present at the meeting. The outcome of the planning application is due to be decided on April 22.
