Councillor objects to Islamic centre

A GALWAY County Councillor has objected to plans by the Tuam Islamic Cultural Centre to use a premises in the town for communal gatherings.

The Tuam Islamic Cultural Centre Company Ltd applied to Galway County Council last week for retention planning permission for two units in the N17 Business Park in Tuam. They are seeking to change their use from commercial to a place for communal gatherings to hold scheduled services for members of the local Muslim community.

Two submissions have been made on the plans so far.

Cllr Killilea has requested the retention be refused. The Fianna Fáil Cllr argues that the units are to be used primarily as a place of worship or religious facility and claims that the planning adverts are inaccurate and misleading regarding the intended use of the units as a community hall.

Some of the other matters raised by Cllr Killilea relate to non-compliance and breach of historic planning conditions, contravention with land use zoning objectives in the Galway County Development Plan and Tuam Local Area Plan, the creation of traffic issues on the N83, and insufficient parking spaces.

The Tuam Planning Integrity Group, in the Liosban Industrial Estate in Galway city, have requested the local authority not to grant retention permission until they are satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support matters including planning history, authorised land use, traffic and parking.

Planners are due to make a decision in late November.