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The Mosque in the Wandsworth Guardian

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The following article was published on 10th April 2013 in the Wandsworth Guardian:

Plans to expand a mosque topped off with a dome will not be enough to fulfill demand, fear neighbouring residents.

An image of the mosque plans in Falcon Road, Battersea
An image of the mosque plans in Falcon Road, Battersea

The trust in charge of the Battersea Mosque, in Falcon Road, Battersea, want to extend worship areas and create a dome with a pinnacle.
The planning application also describes excavation to the basement for additional prayer rooms, new staircases and a new disabled lift.
The proposed Mosque will measure 777 sq m, which will expand the floor area by 44 per cent.
Sometimes there are up to 400 men at a time using the building, while women use the adjacent Islamic Culture and Education Centre for worship.
The application document stated: “The main objective is to extend the existing worship areas and to improve the entrance and circulation routes which at present are limited and are not viable for the large numbers of people and children using the building.”
Critics fear the building, which was originally a house, is far too small for the numbers of worshippers already visiting the mosque.
Cyril Richert, of the Clapham Junction Action Group, said: “My view is a mosque with a dome, some minarets, is perfectly fine and is good to characterise the building.
“But you can imagine something like that with a big area on some greenery and some trees like other churches in the area.
“They are making two basements in order to make more space, they are just digging down in order to make rooms – it is a bit crazy.”
Liz Walton, chairman of the Battersea Society, said it would be more suitable for the Mosque to find a larger property in Battersea.
She said: “The real problem is that the use of the Mosque has outgrown the suitability of this site as a place of worship and community activity for the numbers now attending.
“On Fridays the use of the Mosque increases traffic delays around this section of Falcon Road.”
A planning applications committee is expected to make a decision on April 11.

The planning application has been refused by Wandsworth Council, as reported in our article HERE.

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CJI editor and Clapham Junction Action Group co-founder and coordinator since 2008, Cyril has lived in Clapham Junction since 2001.
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