Hawzah News Agency- Al-Haqq Academy first sought to change the official use of The Peacock last year, which has been closed since 2020.

It applied for permission to convert the ground floor of the pub in Gravesend, Kent into an academy. This would offer both religious and community services including a mosque, prayer hall, food bank and youth club.

Although the plans received an overwhelming show of support with 107 letters backing thems and just 23 objections, planning bosses at Gravesend Council threw out the proposals. However last Monday, the charity submitted another planning application to change the use of the building. The new scheme looks to convert the ground floor of the pub solely into a mosque, also known as a masjid, for around 65 worshippers.

When Gravesend Council first rejected the plans, officers raised concerns over the opening hours which they claimed they lacked clarity, which they argued, meant the council could not safeguard the impact on neighbours. Officers also stated that the plans would see the loss of a public house - which could not be allowed when no evidence had been submitted to show it was ''no longer economically viable'' as a pub. But Al-Haqq Academy says its new application addresses the previous reasons for refusal.

In its statement, Al-Haqq Academy said that places of worship are not usually noisy - and typically present less issues for residents than pubs.

They added: ''The use of the premises as ''a building of social infrastructure'' is not being lost. ''Rather, it is being replaced by another building of social infrastructure that serves the local community''.

Al-Haqq Academy, which is based in Gravesend, also explained that there is a ''significant under-provision'' of Muslim prayer facilities in the area.

It said that according to the 2021 census, there are 3,326 Muslims living in the borough, but there are only two mosques: the Central Mosque and Shah Jalal Mosque.

It is a sustainable development which will secure the long-term social and cultural needs of the place of worship in the community and reduce the need for travel elsewhere. At the time of writing, four letters of support had been received and no objections had been lodged.

A decision on the new application is expected by June 23.

Source: Daily Online News