Hundreds object to plans for prayer facility on Dewsbury road

More than 300 objections have been registered against the plans, which would see a former newsagent on Wakefield Road converted into a Muslim prayer facility.

According to documents submitted with the application, the facility would serve a maximum of 25 members, and weekday prayer times would be limited to evenings only.

In the documents, ISR Design Consultancy said measures had been taken to minimise the impact of any noise, including asking members to sign a charter which "will require them to access and egress the facility straight to their homes with no congregation allowed in the vicinity of the facility."

Objecting to the plans, many residents said they were concerned about the impact the prayer facility would have on traffic in the area.

One wrote: "There is not enough parking available in the local area to allow for visiting cars to park without blocking areas used by residents or home owners drives.

"Most homes in the area have one or two cars with not all having driveways - so have at least one of their vehicles on the road in front of their property.

"All in all the car numbers already make it difficult to safely drive along some of the local streets and bringing more cars into the area would make it outright dangerous."

However, in documents submitted with the application, the applicant notes that the facility would be accessible to pedestrians only, with two disabled spaces to the rear of the property.

The documents read: "The new Muslim prayer facility will provide a vital service to the small Muslim community within walking distance of the property.

"Only pedestrian access will be allowed to a maximum 25 No. membership with no Friday prayers or education programme proposed.

"Furthermore, there are no internal or external material changes proposed. The facility will also make use of a derelict building."

Writing in support of the plans, one resident said they would be excited to see a new use for the currently abandoned building.

They wrote: "Really brilliant idea. With the property in such a state I feel this will be a nice and positive change. With the application stating the resident's attending the building will be walking there, its an even better reason to accept this application.

"Too many years have gone by where buildings like these have been left unloved and in a sorry state."

A decision on the application is expected to be made at a later date.

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