HUNDREDS of people opposed to an application to build an Islamic community centre and mosque on greenbelt land packed out a public meeting last night.
More than 500 people turned up for a community council meeting which would normally attract about 20 residents to discuss the proposals for the new mosque in Newton Mearns, near Glasgow. About 100 were in support of the plan.
Members of the area's Muslim community want to build the centre, which will have two prayer halls and a domed roof, on designated greenbelt land in a residential area.
The East Renfrewshire Muslim Association has submitted a planning application for the 1.7 acre site to the local council but Scottish ministers will have the final say on whether it is given the go-ahead.
There is no mosque in East Renfrewshire and members of the local Muslim community, which has grown to about 3000 over the last 10 years, travel to Glasgow for worship.
Previous attempts to obtain planning permission for a mosque in the area have failed.
In 2001, when an application was submitted to council planners, an anonymous letter opposing the mosque and a development of offices and low-cost housing tied to it was sent to houses in Newton Mearns. It stated: "A quick summary of this can only mean devaluation of your home."
However, residents opposed to the new planning application strenuously denied they were motivated by racism and insisted that they were opposed to the mosque because of the adverse environmental impact the building would create.
Plans for the Islamic centre in Leslie Avenue have been lodged with the council but not yet properly registered. As well as the mosque, there would be parking for 100 cars and a keeper's lodge.
East Renfrewshire Council owns the land on which the proposed mosque would be built, which means the final decision on planning permission must be taken by Scottish ministers, if councillors vote in favour of the proposals later this year.
One resident of Leslie Avenue said: "Plans have been lodged for a huge f loodlit building that would be more at home in Mecca than Newton Mearns. Obviously the local residents are up in arms about this."
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