Outrage as Muslim culture centre gets go-ahead in Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Planning permission has been granted for a new cultural centre, including prayer rooms, for Muslims living in Clonmel, Co Tipperary despite strong opposition from a large group of local residents.

The plans provide for the demolition of an existing derelict building and the construction of a new two-storey centre which will provide for a number of activities including prayers, mother and toddler groups, breastfeeding facilities, a library, canteen and youth club.

The board ruled that the centre, subject to a number of planning conditions, would not seriously injure residential or visual amenities of adjoining properties..

It claimed the proposed building represented “an appropriate type and scale of development at this location and would be acceptable in terms of pedestrian and traffic safety and convenience.”

Residents from Irishtown, Albert Street and St Mary’s Place in Clonmel complained the centre including the prayer rooms would generate a lot of additional noise and disturbance as well as traffic in an already congested area.

Over 200 local residents had signed submissions which also raised concern that the new building would overshadow other houses.

They claimed older people living in Irishtown would be nervous that people would be in their area late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

The objectors said the council’s decision to approve the project was “outrageous” and “absolutely mind boggling” especially as it had refused planning permission for four two-bed townhouses a short distance away because it would create a traffic hazard.

“There are so many more suitable sites in Clonmel where over development, overpopulation, traffic hazard and public safety are not an issue,” said the main appellant, Bernie Reidy.

The TICC, a registered charity, which is currently based at a smaller premises in Clonmel, provided reassurance to the planning authorities that there would be no amplified call to prayer from the new centre.

It claimed the largest number attending prayers would be up to 50 on a Friday afternoon.

The centre pointed out that half the Muslim community in Clonmel consisted of doctors working in South Tipperary General Hospital where there was also a room for prayer.

The TICC said there were a number of potential misunderstandings about the sort of activities that would be carried out in the centre and concerns that there would be hoards of people accessing the building throughout the night were “incorrect and unfounded”.

It claimed two-thirds of people using the facility are living within one mile of the site which would eliminate the need for them to use cars

The TICC said the centre would generate significantly fewer vehicles than when the building was the location for a large car showroom.

It also noted that the height of the cultural centre would only be slightly higher than the existing building on the site.