Inquiry told no demand for a mega-mosque in east London

Conclusive evidence that there is no local demand for a huge mega-mosque close to the Olympic Stadium in east London has been given to the Planning Inspector at the public inquiry underway at the ExCel Centre in Docklands.

The founder of the campaign group, MegaMosqueNoThanks, Alan Craig, says, “One of key our witnesses to the inquiry, Dr Jenny Taylor of LapidoMedia, showed conclusively there was no local demand for a 9,000-seater mosque which would be twice the size of the present headquarters of the group applying for the development – Tablighi Jamaat – which is based in Dewsbury in Yorkshire.” 

Mr Craig said the witness told the Planning Inspector that Tablighi Jamaat was a separatist group which encourages Muslims to live separately.

“Jenny said that to expect the fundamentalist mosque backers – Tablighi Jamaat – to promote inclusion, was like ‘expecting a pear tree to produce potatoes’.  She also highlighted that the figures produced by the mosque trustees themselves showed the proposed venue would be underutilised for 98% of the year – in other words it would be a waste of an important and strategic development site,” he added.

The inquiry is expected to conclude next week, after three weeks of evidence.

Read Dr Taylor's full article here (Lapido Media) >