PLANS to create an Islamic cultural centre in Yate have been withdrawn.
The application was been made last October by Yate Islamic Cultural and Resource Centre Ltd for a vacant site at a row of shops in Wellington Road.
The centre was proposed alongside the chip shop, Spice restaurant and Tesco Express shop, opposite Cambrian Green Court between the Farmhouse pub and Mormon church.
In a statement outlining the plans last October, agents Studio Yaqub Limited said the planned centre had a “carefully considered design”, which “not only has influences of Islamic architectural flair but is also intertwined with crafts and skills of Great British traditions”.
Nearly 500 people wrote on South Gloucestershire Council’s planning website to oppose the plans.
Most said there would not be enough parking on the site for the number of people who would be likely to use it, which would lead to problems on nearby roads.
However with some people writing that they objected on religious grounds, some of the 80 supporters of the scheme accused its opponents of Islamophobia.
Formal objection from town council
A formal objection was also made by Yate Town Council, which wrote to say that while councillors “strongly support” the provision of an Islamic Cultural and Resource Centre in the town, they believed the scheme was “in the wrong location and the design is inappropriate to address the needs of the community, based on the numbers attending the current Yate prayers, parking and other ancillary issues”.
The town council said it was currently providing a venue for around 40 Muslim residents to hold Friday prayers at the town’s YMCA building, which it owns, and supporting them in a search for a suitable permanent venue.
But its statement added: “The applicant has not demonstrated control over any land suitable for public parking, with no offering of off-street parking or cycle parking.”
On March 24, South Gloucestershire Council’s planning website, where the plans and objections had been posted, was updated with a notice that the plans had been withdrawn.
Responding, a town council spokesperson said: “Yate Town Council welcomes the decision by the applicant to withdraw the application.
“Our Muslim residents will continue to worship in rooms they hire locally whilst continuing to search for a more suitable site for a permanent location.”
MP: this wasn’t the right location
The decision has been backed by Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young, who said: “While the news will be disappointing to the those behind the application, this wasn’t the right location.
“I am confident that our community can come together to find a local place where people can worship that would work well for everybody.”
Picture: Computer generated image of the planned Islamic Cultural Centre for Yate from plans submitted by Studio Yaqub