A “DERELICT” former car wash site near the Slough town centre will be redeveloped into a religious school as the nearby Mosque seeks to expand.
A majority of councillors on the planning committee backed the Slough Islamic Trust’s plans to build a community and educational facility on 79-83 Uxbridge Road, which also used to host a petrol station, to support the Diamond Road Mosque.
The building will be up to four-storeys in height and will accommodate four classrooms, communal teaching spaces, ancillary breakout spaces, toilets, and a small kitchenette.
About 80 people are expected to be in the facility with the classrooms being used by between six to 12 people with up to 18 people in the larger communal teaching spaces. Four to six teachers will be employed.
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There will be 46 car parking spaces and will provide an “overflow” of spaces for the Diamond Road Mosque. Eight cycle stands, which can fit 16 bicycles, will also be erected.
A one-way system will be implemented, with vehicles exiting onto Uxbridge Road via existing access. No motorists will enter the site from Uxbridge Road.
Town centre councillor Safdar Ali (Lab) said: “I’m glad that this site is now being proposed to be developed and the council is giving permission.
“The community work the Slough Islamic Trust are doing, particularly educating youngsters, is very valuable to the local community and I hope that the council will cooperate and assist the Slough Islamic Trust, who are a registered charity at the end of the day serving the local community, to get this building up and running.
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“It will contribute and make the site better because that site has been sitting there, I think 10 years, dormant.”
Cllr Harjinder Gahir (Lab: Wexham Lea) called the site “derelict” and believed the approved plans will “tidy up” the area and will be used for a “good cause”.
However, Cllr Chandra Muvvala (Con: Langley Kedermister), who was the only member to abstain, wanted to add a condition for the applicant to add a gate to secure the car park but went unheard.
A majority of planning committee members backed the scheme on Wednesday, October 13.
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