Caveat Emptor - “Let the buyer beware”

News that the parking restrictions around the Hamptons are in place, will come as a huge relief for local residents, but are a huge slap in the face to the plans of the Chelmsford Muslim Society.

If you think back to January 2020 the CMS were happy to state “"Hamptons Sports and Leisure Centre already has much of what we would like to do with the building and will remain as Hampton Sports and Leisure”.

The CMS may own the land, business and building, but wrongly assumed they would be granted permission by the landowners of the open space adjacent to the centre to use it for parking.

They even mentioned it at a meeting with the owners of the Clarion Gate estate, councillors and the estate management company on 20/02/20. This was a comment from Ayman Syed (AS)

And in regards to the ownership:

Unbelievable that a venue that would rely on extra parking for larger events, would not secure parking rights before going ahead with the purchase.

Of course, having seen so many claims from the CMS that only small numbers of worshippers would use the venue, you have to question why they even needed the extra parking spaces. Were they being economical with the truth ?

It is very much “let the buyer aware”, and it seems unfathomable that a charity would spend £2.35 million on a venue and not do the due dilligance required. We do have a little sympathy as the estate agents listing does suggest “additional open space to form as a surplus car park”, but someone should have checked the Land Registry documents which clearly show that the open space was not part of the plot for sale.

It also clearly shows on page 3 of the agents listing that the plot marked in red does not include the open space. Why did no one from the CMS notice this before the purchase went through ?

In fact this land is a designated Public Open Space, and was one of the requirements for the construction of the residential estate at Clarion Gate..

This pretty much wrecks the plans for the “biggest mosque in Essex”, unless the CMS intend to ignore parking restrictions and cause conflict with local residents. Local residents have already contacted us regarding this, and we are currently making plans to assist if the need arises.

Whoever is responsible for this expensive oversight should be held accountable by the members of the Chelmsford Muslim Society.