Mosque responds to annex conversion critics

The mosque intends to convert its annexe into a sports facility

A mosque has responded to criticism over plans to convert its "deteriorating" annexe into a three-storey community hall.

The Madina Masjid Mosque in East Oxford, Oxfordshire, submitted proposals to turn its smaller building into a "versatile sports facility".

Critics said the development would be a "cheap, plain brick box" and bring additional parking to the street.

A mosque spokesperson said the space would offer yoga and fitness facilities.

Plans for the community hall development with two two-bedroom apartments were submitted in March.

Since then, there have been 34 public comments listed on Oxford City Council's website, many of which are objections.

The Oxford Civic society said the new building "is most certainly not 'high quality design' in a conservation area".

“It is a cheap plain brick box. That totally ignores context,” the statement said.

“Traffic to and from the mosque causes traffic jams several times every day and the propensity for illegal parking represents a serious safety issue."

A transport report published by the mosque on 6 December suggested the vast majority of congregation members live nearby and are likely to travel to the mosque via bike or foot.

'Nicer and better'

Spokespeople for the mosque said the new hall was “only a little room” to be used for elderly people to sit in intervals between prayer times.

They added that it would provide "an avenue for empowering women from ethnic minority backgrounds by offering exercise classes".

Chairman of the mosque Sadat Khan said: “All we’re trying to do is make the annexe look nicer and better.

“Once upon a time the council was asking us to do it."

He added that since the introduction of low traffic neighbourhoods the number of their congregation members had "drastically" dropped and as a result they now have one prayer instead of two.

A design access and heritage statement published in June noted that the proposal "does not adversely affect the character of the original building".

The new development would also include a bin and bike store.