The Mosque in the Wandsworth Guardian

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Cyril Richert

The following article was published on 10th April 2013 in the Wandsworth Guardian:

Plans to expand a mosque topped off with a dome will not be enough to fulfill demand, fear neighbouring residents.

An image of the mosque plans in Falcon Road, Battersea

The trust in charge of the Battersea Mosque, in Falcon Road, Battersea, want to extend worship areas and create a dome with a pinnacle.

The planning application also describes excavation to the basement for additional prayer rooms, new staircases and a new disabled lift.

The proposed Mosque will measure 777 sq m, which will expand the floor area by 44 per cent.

Sometimes there are up to 400 men at a time using the building, while women use the adjacent Islamic Culture and Education Centre for worship.

The application document stated: “The main objective is to extend the existing worship areas and to improve the entrance and circulation routes which at present are limited and are not viable for the large numbers of people and children using the building.”

Critics fear the building, which was originally a house, is far too small for the numbers of worshippers already visiting the mosque.

Cyril Richert, of the Clapham Junction Action Group, said: “My view is a mosque with a dome, some minarets, is perfectly fine and is good to characterise the building.

“But you can imagine something like that with a big area on some greenery and some trees like other churches in the area.

“They are making two basements in order to make more space, they are just digging down in order to make rooms – it is a bit crazy.”

Liz Walton, chairman of the Battersea Society, said it would be more suitable for the Mosque to find a larger property in Battersea.

She said: “The real problem is that the use of the Mosque has outgrown the suitability of this site as a place of worship and community activity for the numbers now attending.

“On Fridays the use of the Mosque increases traffic delays around this section of Falcon Road.”

A planning applications committee is expected to make a decision on April 11.

The planning application has been refused by Wandsworth Council, as reported in our article HERE.

Filed under: Clapham Junction, In the press

The proposal for the Mosque extension is refused

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Cyril Richert

Author: Cyril Richert

Wandsworth Planning Application committee has refused, on Thursday 11th April 2013, the proposal to extend and refurbished the Mosque in Falcon Road.

By 8 votes to 1 (Cllr Billi Randall who thought that the principle of redevelopment was more or less agreed in 2010) following a successful motion to refuse, the planning permission 2012/3747 for the Islamic Centre, 75 Falcon Road was refused on the following grounds:

The proposed extensions by virtue of their increased size and siting would introduce unacceptable bulk to the property and the streetscene of the location to the detriment of their visual amenity. As such, the proposal is considered contrary to Policy IS3 of the Wandsworth Core Strategy 2010 and Policy DMS1 of the Wandsworth DMPD 2012.
The proposal would result in the unacceptable intensification of an already intensively used site, resulting in a harmful increase in noise levels and general disturbance when accessing and leaving the facility during peak times, while failing to demonstrate that the transport impacts of the development could be managed satisfactorily without resulting in an unacceptable impact on the local highway network. As such, the proposal is considered contrary to Policies DMS1 and DMT1 of the Wandsworth DMPD 2012.

The decision goes against the recommendation of the officers that we reported at the bottom of our previous article: Proposal to refurbish and extend the Mosque in Falcon Road.

It follows the main reasons (1. Scale and Design) for objection raised by the Clapham Junction Action Group.

Following a meeting that we attended a few weeks ago with local Councillors and people from the Mosque, it was said that in case of refusal, they would pursue with the granted application that they have from 2010 (ref: 2010/4850).

However, conditions apply, including that work shall begin with 3 years from the date of this permission, i.e. 18 February 2011. The money raised for the plan is currently only covering half of the cost (estimated to be about £300k) and time is running out. A new application will have to be submitted if nothing moves by 2014.

See below a drawing of the 2010/4850 proposal that was approved in February 2011.

Filed under: Clapham Junction

Council Tax

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Blogger

The average council tax bill in Wandsworth will still be the lowest in the country following proposals published today to freeze the council’s own share of the bill.

While the council’s levy will remain unchanged, it is having to pass on increases from other public organisations whose funding makes up part of the bill. This includes the cost of refuse disposal by the Western Riverside Waste Authority.

If agreed by councillors on March 6, bills will go up by 22p per week from April – an overall rise of 3.1 per cent. This represents only the second increase in ten years while many other household costs during this time have virtually doubled.

Borough residents pay around half the council tax bills that other Londoners have to pay. Wandsworth’s Band D bill for 2012/13 was £684, compared to a London average of more than £1,300.

A study looking at council tax levels over the past 20 years shows that Wandsworth Band D payers are £10,054 better off over that period than taxpayers in Merton, £11,741 better off than Kingston taxpayers and £12,108 better off than Richmond’s.

Is Wandsworth Council Tax Too Low?

Are Wandsworth shutting playgrounds to keep the tax low?

Critics say Wandsworth has been cutting services to keep the tax artificially low – such as One O’Clock centres, Libraries and Playgrounds. What do you think?

Juice up your Jalopy

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Blogger

New power points for electric cars

Just plug in, wait, and go!

The council has installed an on-street electric vehicle charging point in Clapham Junction.

Electric cars help to cut air pollution as they produce no exhaust emissions. They are also virtually silent.

The new charging points are part of the Source London Network which includes 816 on and off-street power points across the capital. Scheme members can use any of these facilities to top-up their batteries.

The new on-street charging point is in Grant Road, Clapham Junction (Map). For more information on electric vehicles visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/driveelectric

Platform 1 Clapham Junction

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Blogger

In 2012, users of Clapham Junction station may have noticed the mysterious renumbering of platforms. Curious, we asked for an official explanation and here’s what we were told

The old platform 1 (disused) has now become platform ZERO but is not advertised as it will be never used. The old platform 2 in now platform 1, and there is a new platform 2 is being built for the new London Overground Rail Operators Ltd (LOROL) service which starts in December 2012

So now you know. Many thanks to John Walsh at SW Trains for providing us with the information.

Platform 1 at Clapham Junction railway station

The old platform 1 has now become platform ZERO

Concert for CJ Riots

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Blogger

A charity fundraiser featuring Chris Difford, The Popes and Popchoir and friends for the people of Clapham Junction, Victim Support & St Mark’s Youth Group.

When: Thursday, 08/09/11, 19:00
Where: The Clapham Grand
21-25 St John’s Hill, Clapham Junction, SW11 1TT

Tickets are just £10.

Even if you are not interested in attending the event yourself perhaps you could pass on to friends and family, link on facebook, twitter etc as the concert has been put together very quickly by a group of volunteers and really needs to get more publicity if it is to be the big success it deserves to be.

Looting spreads to South London

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Blogger

The violence and looting which started on Saturday in Tottenham, North London, has now spread to parts of South London.

Croydon, Clapham Junction, Colliers Wood, Brixton and Peckham were all hit by looters last night.

Clapham Junction cordoned off

A map of the trouble hit areas can be seen at Google Maps

Video of the Aftermath of looting in Clapham Junction:

Police are braced for another night of trouble ahead.

Clapham Junction Riots

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Blogger

Residents survey the destruction

A night of rioting and looting left Clapham Junction residents shaken this morning as they surveyed the damage. Most of the shops around the Clapham Junction areas of St Johns Hill, Lavender Hill, Falcon Road and St John’s Road were damaged in last night’s disturbances.

Local people’s comments

I can hear the helicopters outside and police sirens. i am watching the news about what is happening. So sad that our high street is getting trashed. The news tells about 13 years old and young teenagers looting my local area.

I hope this is not something that happens all the time in London or anywhere for that matter. I am scared to take my child outside my flat now. its sad

Ah, just arrived back home to good olde Blighty (after a week in the Med) to the familiar sights and sounds of home. Yes, the welcoming sight of masked youths returning back to my estate after a hard days looting. And the soothing sounds of burglar alarms ringing at the end of the road mixed with the roar of police helicopters overhead. Yes it’s good to be back

The police need more resources to deal with this. If that means bringing in the army as well so be it. Having seen the You Tube footage of some of these events I don’t think a peaceful unified community

Yes, we pay our taxes and yes, we expect to feel protected but if it flares up again tonight is a peaceful unified community action out of the question given the extreme circumstances?

It will be 10 times worse tomorrow and 100 times more horrific next week. The police are already 3 hours late to react to any intelligence.

Smashed Windows in Clapham Junction

CJ Mum named Londoner of the Day

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Blogger

London Star Hadas Hagos

Londoner of the Day goes to a Battersea mum for her work helping out at a self-help group for hard-pressed parents.

Hadas Hagos is a member of WOW, or Women of Wandsworth, a self-help group of local mums who meet weekly to discuss ways of improving their lives, and the lives of their children.

For three and a half years Hadas has helped WOW by balancing the books and by offering practical help however she can.

Hadas said ““I’m surprised. I suppose they must value my contribution. It is all about helping families with children from low income backgrounds to expand their horizons.”

“I have no family around me so this is like an alternative family. It’s very important. It’s makes me feel so good to help at WOW.” She added.

If you would like to nominate someone for a future Londoner of the Day mention you can email London24 editor Simon Bull at simon.bull@archant.co.uk

Falcon Lane Right Turn opens

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Blogger

Clapham Junction Roadworks

The long running roadworks on Lavender Hill by Clapham Junction are now more or less over, with the right turn into Falcon Lane now open.

This is part of a long term plan to improve traffic flow at the main crossroad by Clapham Junction Station. The new right turn allows traffic heading for Falcon Road, Battersea Park Road and York Road to avoid the busy Falcon Road/St John’s Hill.

Travelling along this stretch regularly, it certainly seems to have made a beneficial difference. Let’s hope the council doesn’t mess up the good work by littering the area with unneccesary traffic lights.

Clapham Junction incorporating Battersea News

News and information about Clapham Junction and Battersea, London

Category Archives: Clapham Junction