10:32am Thursday 2nd October 2008
By Daniel Binns
A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to extend the opening hours and increase congregation numbers at a Muslim cultural centre has been turned down.
Staff at the centre, on Mulberry Way in South Woodford, want to extend their opening hours from 7pm to 10.30pm and allow more people inside during religious festivals.
The plans had attracted criticism from some residents over fears that the increased numbers would cause major traffic and parking problems on the street.
At a meeting last night (Wednesday) of the council's Regional Planning Committee, councillors turned down the application after officers revealed that the centre had been breaking current regulations on visitor numbers.
Planning Committee member Cllr Richard Hoskins said: "We do of course understand and recognise the good work that the centre does in the local community, but our officers said numbers of around 150 had been going inside the centre when only 70 are allowed in at any one time.
"The committee also took the view that the area would not be able to cope with the additional numbers and parking required, and as they were breaking the rules anyway we decided not to let it through."
A previous council meeting back in October 2000 ended in a riot after councillors turned down an application to build a language and prayer centre at the site, but last night's meeting ended without incident.
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