CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn an historic sports club site into a mosque have been given the green light by councillors.
Hundreds of people objected to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association’s plan to transform The Pavilion at Fartown into a mosque and community centre.
But yesterday, members of Huddersfield’s planning sub-committee granted permission, agreeing that the association’s plans would breathe new life into the site off Spaines Road and be of huge benefit to the community.
Munir Ahmed, president of the Huddersfield branch of the AMA, told the Examiner that he was thrilled with the decision.
He said: “We are delighted, particularly as it was a unanimous decision by the council and they understood exactly what we aim to achieve with the site.
“It will be a great asset, not only for our own members, but also for the wider community and we’re looking forward to creating something that will be so beneficial.
“Our plan is to restore The Pavilion to how it was and actively engage the community. Our aim is to also bring back the sports that were once enjoyed, including cricket.
“We will be starting work on it right away and we’ll be having a big celebration with the community when it’s up and running.”
The Pavilion is part of the historic Fartown sports complex, which was home to a cricket ground and rugby pitch. It was last used as a nightclub and venue for parties but has not been open to the public for almost two years, being left to ruin and attracting vandalism.
Objectors voiced a number of concerns about turning the mock Tudor site into a place of worship, including arguments that it should be kept as a sporting venue, that it would lead to an increase in traffic and that such a change of use would lead to the site losing its sense of heritage and historical value.
Geoffrey Marsden, who used to play for the cricket club, said that the land had been gifted to the local community for the use of sports only and that a mosque would change that purpose.
But Mr Ahmed said that the work would not result in the loss of sporting activities in the area and that lots of sports would be reintroduced for the wider community. He said that The Pavilion would be restored, not replaced.
Highways officials said that the mosque was unlikely to generate an increase in traffic. Safety of pedestrians will be improved with the addition of a crossing scheme.
And councillors agreed that the work planned for the site would be a big benefit to the community and for community cohesion.
Clr Christine Stanfield said: “I welcome the development. It’s going to greatly benefit the wider community.”
