Mosque could move into former chapel

The chapel has been an auction house since 2013

A former chapel in Taunton could become the town's mosque after a planning application was submitted.

The Octagon Chapel on East Reach was built in the 1960s and was a place of worship until 2012.

In 2013 it became an auction house but now the owners Greenslade Taylor Hunt want to sell it.

Taunton Mosque and Islamic Centre has applied to Somerset Council for a change of use so the building can serve the local Muslim community.

The building has been for sale since February

Taunton Mosque and Islamic Centre is currently based on Tower Lane in the town.

In the planning application it says that it will not change the inside of the building and the only change to the outside would be to remove the auction house signs.

People have until the end of May if they want to comment and a number of people have already done so.

Ziauddin Khan from Taunton said the current mosque is "too small for worshippers to pray, opening up a new place would be a great idea for the Muslim community."

Dr Sariqa Wagley, also from the town, said "it will add to the community spirit in Taunton and will help multiculturalism."

Benji Gosling who lives on East Reach raised concerns about the impact on traffic and noise during festival events.

Anyone who wants to comment can do so on the Somerset Council website using the reference 38/24/0151.