Prayer centre to open at 4am

29 July 2010

HAVERING Islamic Society has been given permission for a year to use its premises from 4am in the morning to 11pm at night for prayers.

The community centre in Waterloo Road, Romford, has up until now been used five times a day for prayer, with the earliest session at 7am and the latest at 8.30pm, as well as at other times in the day for games or language classes.

The society requested consent from Havering Council's Regulatory Services Committee to extend the centre's usage times to allow its members' five obligatory prayer sessions at the appropriate times during the day between sunrise and sunset.

The same timings were approved temporarily for a year in 2008, but they expired in October last year.

A proposal went before the committee on Thursday of last week for the additional timings to be allowed on a permanent basis.

Resident Mary Roberts spoke at the Town Hall meeting on behalf of neighbours who opposed the new times on parking grounds.

Referring to existing problems at the current prayer times, she said: "Residents are unable to access or depart their houses so any movement of vehicles is impossible."

She said when residents approached drivers about the issue they were very aggressive "sticking their fingers up" or threw rubbish.

She said if people could park at such early times in the area, they could prevent people getting out to work or taking their children to school.

Cllr Barry Tebbutt (Brooklands, Con) explained enforcement rules were in place to fine drivers blocking private driveways, but added those rules did not apply between midnight and 7am.

Patrick Keyes, head of development and building control, said: "The purpose of the additional hours is to enable worship to take place during sunrise and sunset.

"Their prayer calendar is sequenced to daybreak and dusk."

Cllr Sandra Binion (Havering Park, Con) said the 4am start seemed a bit excessive.

Cllr Barry Oddy (Elm Park, Con) said parking was not considered when temporary permission was passed the first time, making it weak ground for refusal.

Cllr Binion added: "At that time residents are still in bed. Even if there were only three cars, you've still got a noise issue."

Cllr Ron Ower (Upm, RA) said granting permission would set a dangerous precedent and added: "No one wants to stop religious views, but people can pray at their homes and go there at 7am.

"I think the existing timings are quite adequate."

He moved a motion for a refusal, which Cllr Tebbutt seconded.

But following further deliberation that was withdrawn.

A new motion for a one-year temporary permission was put forward by Cllr Binion and seconded by Cllr Jeff Brace (Elm Park, Con) to allow the council to monitor the situation and record the number of fines issued to establish how bad the parking problems were.

It was not supported by Cllrs Brian Eagling (Harold Wood, RA), Ron Ower or Mark Logan (Rain & Wenn, Ind Local Res Grp), but agreed by all once it became the substantive.

Permission would be restricted to no more than 15 people at the centre during the times outside the current hours, but Cllr Paul McGeary (Heaton, Lab) highlighted this element would be difficult to control.

No one from the Havering Islamic Society attended the meeting.