Hawzah News Agency (Bracknell - UK) - plans for an Islamic community centre in Bracknell are finally set to be approved after a long wait.

An application for the centre was submitted to the council in August 2019 but widespread interest in the plan and the coronavirus lockdown has meant councillors have not yet been able to make a decision on the proposal.

But now the designs are finally set to be considered -- as planning committee members prepare to meet virtually to decide on a number of divisive applications.

Residents interested in watching councillors come to their decision can watch along by clicking on the link which will be made available here on the day of the meeting.

Here’s what they will be voting on come Thursday, April 23.

Plans for an Islamic Community Centre

The Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society (BICS) wants to set up an Islamic Community Centre at Waterside Park on Cookham Road.

These plans have been in the pipeline since 2017 and now the group’s wish could be made a reality after planning officers recommended the proposal is given the go-ahead.

Supporters of the plan include people from as far away as Blackpool, Norwich and Birmingham, as well as dozens from Bracknell Forest.

One backer wrote: “Muslims desperately need a place of worship in Bracknell which is a lovely community to live in.

“A mosque in Bracknell will be invaluable.”

The centre would have three meeting rooms, separate men’s and women’s prayer halls, an Imam’s room, a creche, a library