Latest news with #EyresMonsellCommunityFoundation
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arrest over social media post about mosque plan
A woman has been arrested over comments made online about plans to convert a disused Leicester pub into a mosque. The Eyres Monsell Community Foundation has been given approval to change The Glen in Hillsborough Road, Glen Parva, from a pub to a place of worship. On Saturday, Leicestershire Police said comments posted online about the application led to the arrest of a 23-year-old woman on suspicion of sending threatening communication. The force said on Monday she remains on bail pending further investigation. A spokesperson for the South Leicester beat team said a "small number" of comments were "encouraging or inciting people to engage in criminal activity" to stop the plan. The spokesperson added: "It is an offence to encourage or incite people to break the law and officers will be taking appropriate action. "We ask that people are mindful of the comments being made on social media." They added that "reassurance patrols" were being carried out following the comments. The foundation had been based in Eyres Monsell since 2019, according to planning documents, but due to high demand people have had to be turned away from Friday prayers. Members of Leicester City Council's planning committee approved the change of use of the pub, which closed in 2022, at a meeting on Wednesday. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Plan to turn former pub into mosque approved Leicestershire Police Leicester City Council
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Plan to turn disused former Leicester pub into mosque approved
Plan to turn former pub into mosque approved 9 minutes ago Share Save Dan Martin BBC News, Leicester Share Save Google The applicant said the scheme would bring a vacant building back into use Plans to turn a disused Leicester pub into a mosque have been approved. The Eyres Monsell Community Foundation said it wants to convert The Glen, in Hillsborough Road, Eyres Monsell, into a place of worship with an education centre. The group currently uses the nearby Eyres Monsell Community Centre for worship but said it had outgrown the facility. Members of Leicester City Council's planning committee approved the change of use of the pub, which closed in 2022, at a meeting on Wednesday. The committee voted by six to two to approve the proposal with two abstentions. The committee heard there had been more than 870 objections to the scheme lodged with the council and 2,500 people signed an online proposal opposing it. Concerns raised included potential noise from the mosque, and whether there would be enough parking to accommodate worshippers. Karen Pickering, Eyres Monsell city councillor, told the meeting there were "genuine and well-founded" concerns about traffic and safety. She said residents felt the council had not listened their views and suggested the site would be better used for affordable housing. Conditions imposed Some 260 people also contacted the council to say they supported the plan and 328 people signed a petition in favour of it. George Weighman, agent for the applicant, said the foundation would work with the community and was an established local charity which already served residents' religious, educational, and social needs. He said: "This is a local proposal made by local people to benefit the local community. "It will bring an empty building back into use and supports local needs." The applicant, which has already purchased the site, said between 50 and 100 people were expected to attend the mosque on most weekdays, rising to 200 for prayers on Friday. Planning officers had advised councillors to approve the scheme. They said there was adequate parking near the former 1950s-built pub and that the noise impact would be "negligible" and that they believed the development would not cause parking problems or road safety issues. Conditions were attached to the planning permission restricting the mosque's hours of use to between 07:30 BST and 23:00, with some allowances during Ramadan. The council also said the exterior areas of the pub could not be used for worship or events and that no amplified noise would be allowed. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Bid to turn former pub into mosque
BBC News
24-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bid to turn former pub in Leicester into mosque
A community group is aiming to turn a disused pub into a mosque. Eyres Monsell Community Foundation wants to change the use of The Glen in Hillsborough Road, Glen Parva, from a pub to a place of worship. The foundation set up a place for Islamic worship at the Eyres Monsell Community Centre in 2019, according to planning documents submitted to Leicester City it states it has now outgrown its current premises, with an average of 150 people attending prayer sessions on a Friday and some being turned away. Astill Planning Consultants has lodged the application on behalf of the foundation, which hopes the loss of a former pub is outweighed by the community benefits of bringing the building back into use. It adds that the nearest place of Muslim worship is around a mile and a half away in Hallaton Street, Aylestone. A decision is expected to be made in May by a planning officer under delegated powers.
