The Great Community Centre Scam

Since the original announcement of the sale of the Hamptons to the Chelmsford Muslim Society, we have noticed a huge swing in the narrative used to describe the future use of the venue. There seems to be a lack of transparency, and we believe a deliberate attempt to mislead local residents and centre users.

The owners can of course do what they want with the centre (as long as they don’t breach planning laws), but it’s time to stop being disingenuous towards centre users and residents.

Much of the information we’ve found is contradictory. All the evidence you need is here.

No wonder people are perplexed. So what is the Hamptons to become ? A masjid and Islamic centre, a mosque and community centre, an Islamic and community centre, a sports and leisure facility or a community and leisure facility.

Community centres generally perform many of the following functions in their communities:

As the place for all-community celebrations at various occasions and traditions.
As the place for public meetings of the citizens on various issues.
As the place where politicians or other official leaders come to meet the citizens and ask for their opinions, support or votes ("election campaigning" in democracies, other kinds of requests in non-democracies).
As a place where community members meet each other socially.
As a place housing local clubs and volunteer activities.
As a place that community members (and sometimes others), can rent cheaply when a private family function or party is too big for their own home. For instance the non-religious parts of weddings, funerals, etc.
As a place that passes on and retells local history.
As a place where local non-government activities are organised.
As a community venue for entertainment.
As a place of relief in instances of community tragedies.

Sadly we are convinced that the principal use of the Hamptons will be as a Place of Worship , but described as a “community centre”. It’s a common scam to get past the planners, and once permission is granted the community activities simply disappear. Those activities that remain are segregated

Here’s an example with a D1 community centre permission including a condition forbidding it’s use as a Place of Worship

If you need further proof, take a look at these “community centres”

Ashford and Staines Community Centre (website)
Morden Islamic Community Centre (website)
New North Rd Community Centre (website)

With all due respect to any of the above, there doesn’t seem to a whole lot on offer for the whole community, and the principal use seems to be as a Place of Worship . Do these community centres match the description above for a community centre ?

We found at least 30 similar “community centres” that offer the same (before we stopped looking).

The most recent clue to the Chelmsford Muslim Society’s plans is at the top of the advert for the latest project at the Hamptons. We’ll just leave this here.