Muslim prayer hall plans approved for Lincolnshire town

Plans to build a Muslim prayer hall in a Lincolnshire town have been given the go-ahead by councillors this week.

The Sleaford Muslim Community Association, which has been meeting at St Denys’ Church Hall for the past decade, wants to convert a disused storage shed in Station Road.

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   The Sleaford Muslim Community Association has been meeting at St Denys’ Church Hall

The semi-derelict building is situated between the Royal Mail depot and a storage yard operated by Turnbull’s builders merchants.

The company had raised observations about the plans which were discussed by North Kesteven District Council’s Planning Committee.

The proposal is to provide the building with a new brick frontage and a mezzanine floor for use as a prayer hall.

It would also incorporate a kitchen, washroom and toilets plus a small meeting room.

But concerns about the position of the windows, which would overlook the storage yard, were raised by Steve Dunn on behalf of Turnbull’s.

He also wanted assurances the new occupants would have no complaints about lorries or forklifts causing noise as well as smells from an established burger van at the entrance of their premises.

Turnbull’s suggested the windows facing its yard should be glazed with opaque glass to avoid any privacy issues.

Terry Hopkins, one of the firm’s directors, stressed they had not objected to the plans but had made the planners aware of some concerns.

He said: “I assume people would be wishing to have some privacy and we were concerned there maybe issues about that with the windows.

“The officers have taken these issues into account.”

Turnbull’s employs 100 people and has operated on the site since 1971.

The shed building has been empty for some time and is in a rundown condition.

The front of the proposed hall would be of middle-eastern appearance and would also incorporate a small dome, which council officials insist will be a visual enhancement to the local street scene.

The reconstruction of the building will also provide car parking for 15 spaces.

A spokesman for the Sleaford Muslim Community Association was unavailable for comment.