Little Kickers Booted For Madrasah
Our thanks to our friends at BASNA for sharing this information with us. We first became suspicious when we saw this poster a few weeks back.
Confirmation from BASNA
And here is the confirmation, that a long standing established non-religious use has been kicked out at short notice, to make way for a further expansion of religious use at Hamptons.
Increased Capacity !
So here’s the funny thing, CMS have been sadly lacking n transparency in relation to a timetable for religious activities, but the one thing they did reveal when they finally answered the council’s questions, was information about the rooms in use at the weekend.
So by our reckoning that’s now 5 rooms, the Community Rooms (prayer rooms), and the Main Hall all being used for religious purposes. And don’t be surprised if by 5 rooms, CMS mean 6 rooms, because they’ve combined the smaller rooms to make larger ones.
That’s all of the indoor space apart from cafe (closed till the 04/09) and the squash courts, which are only operating at about 25% booking capacity.
ALL OR SUBSTANTIAL PARTS OF THE WEEK
Let’s remind you of the exact wording of the council’s last breach ruling about the religious use of the sports/leisure centre, from May 2023:
“A madrassa operating from the premises is considered to be a religious teaching use. The introduction of a madrassa increases the extent and degree of worship and religious teaching taking place at the premises during term time.
The key consideration being whether a substantial part of the building is dedicated to religious worship and teaching for all or substantial parts of the week. If that is the case, then it is likely that a material change of use would have occurred and that a planning application would be required.
The Council has concluded, following consideration of all the information available, that it remains the case that for the majority of the week the bulk of the internal floorspace and the tennis courts are available for non-religious uses. It follows that the religious teaching that has been introduced, together with the existing worship use that has been taking place, is not to such an extent or degree that a material change of use has occurred. As there is not a material change of use the religious teaching at the extent and level understood to be currently occurring can be accommodated within the existing lawful use”
We think the Planning Department can probably guess what residents will do next !!
BUT ON a lighter note
We did find it terribly amusing to see the amazing assistant manager last night, on his hands and knees scrubbing the large Islamic rugs which will do down in the Main Hall for the Madrassa this weekend: