Say no to stalybridge mosque

This is my letter to the planning dept at TMBC, I have removed my name and address on here.

Dear Jason,


As a resident of Stalybridge, I must raise my objection to the proposal to turn the Pineapple Public House into a community centre or Mosque.


I reasons for objecting the planning permission is as follows.


There are plenty of available community centres within the boundaries of tameside, including the old Stalybridge Market Hall which is less than a 5 minute walk fro the proposed site.


After reading the comments by the proposer in the Advertiser newspaper, I am sure that holding 5 prayer meetings a DAY will undoubtedly cause a considerable amount of disruption to the local residents.


In the same newspaper article, the proposer says that they will have car parking space for MORE than 30 cars, this is going to create disruption to the traffic flow in the area, the traffic lights at Tesco are a major bottleneck at the best of times, at peak periods, the added traffic is going to cause traffic build up leading to increased pollution.


I am lead to believe (please correct me if my information is incorrect) that the Muslim population within Stalybridge is less than 300 in total. If the community centre/Mosque is going to be a successful venture, then it is going to have to encourage visitors from outside the boundaries of Stalybridge. There are (apparently) already 4 Mosques in Ashton Under Lyne, as well as establishments in Hyde and Mossley.


I have no religious objection to the plans for the former public house, I am concerned about the local residents and the extra traffic that this establishment will create.


However I also have the following concerns that should the planning be approved, according to the information given by TMBC own website, two of the local Mosques operate under a system where women are excluded. Would the proposed site operate under the same policies? The Masjid Hamza Mosque in Ashton has a capacity of 1300, MEN only, no women allowed. The Mossley Community Mosque, has a capacity for 30, again Men ONLY. Should TMBC be encouraging this sort of exclusion?


Yours Sincerly