WALTHAM Forest Council has warned a Muslim organisation after it used a former pub for prayers without planning permission.

The Cann Hall Deen and Education Trust (CHDET), the new owner of the Colgrove Arms Pub, in Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone, used the building for Eid prayers on Friday.

The council stepped in because the trust does not yet have planning permission to use the building as a place of worship.

The Guardian received reports from concerned residents that a large number of people attended the pub on Friday morning for Eid prayers.

After a warning from the council the trust agreed that the building would not be used before appropriate permission was granted.

Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet member for Environment, Cllr Clyde Loakes, said: "In light of the very recent history of this building and our need to intervene with enforcement already, we are of course very disappointed that prayers took place last Friday.

"However we have now sought and been given assurances this building will not be used again for this purpose or major building works take place unless planning permission is obtained.

"We'll of course keep our options to intervene at this site, with enforcement powers, under constant review."

Last month building work at the former pub was stopped after the discovery of asbestos at the premises.

The CHDET had not submitted a planning application to change the use of the premises and, following a further inspection by the council’s health and safety team, the building was closed due to the discovery of the potentially harmful substance in the basement.

Residents are concerned over the lack of consultation on the plans to convert the pub into a mosque.

They claim the mosque will cause further parking problems in the area and say they were not consulted about the plans.

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