ABBEY MILLS MOSQUE, NEWHAM, PLANNING APPLICATION

That this House notes the recent application for a mosque to be built on the Abbey Mills site in Newham; further notes that planning for this mosque has been over many years employing expert architects and others at large expense and in co-operation with the planning department at Newham Council; further notes that the proposal for a mosque on this site has been the subject of Islamophobic opposition from a number of quarters; further notes that, despite this prejudiced opposition, some 26,000 letters of support for the proposal were received by the Council and only 3,000 letters of opposition; further notes that Newham Council has now refused permission in controversial circumstances in which allegations have been made of undue and improper pressure being brought to bear on some councillors on the planning committee; therefore calls on Newham Council to reverse this decision and grant planning permission for this mosque; and believes that an independent inquiry should be held into how planning permission came to be refused.