MORE than 80 people have objected to a Muslim place of worship with religious leaders saying objectors are "using any excuse" to divide the community.

Woolston Learning Centre in Victoria Road has been in operation since 2017 and is used by many as a place to pray instead of travelling to Medina Mosque.

But dozens of objections have been made now as leaders have submitted a bid for retrospective planning permission for the centre. It was formerly an off-licence and does not have planning permission.

Some residents have said ‘a mosque will have a negative impact all-round’ – while Muslim leaders say there is nothing to fear and that it’s ‘a positive addition’ to the area.

Rashidul Islam, secretary of the Muslim Council in Southampton is under the impression that some residents of Woolston are ‘using any excuse’ to divide the community – and the truth is, ‘they don’t want to see a Muslim place of worship’.

Mr Islam said: “It is disappointing to note a lot of objections which the majority seems to have undertone of fear of a mosque operating from this site.

“They have used the site for a number of years and they have had no complaints, no issues with neighbours, parking or noise.

“Suddenly they have put in an application for a mosque and all these become factors.

“I have lived most of my life in Woolston. I still have family who live there and on the whole, it’s a good place to live – but there is still an element which I believe will use any excuse to divide the community and make excuses for their actual motives, which is they don’t want to see a Muslim place of worship.”

Hamza Oztas, a volunteer at the centre said that the place has never caused any problems and has received ‘widespread support’.

The applicant, Yonus Yorulmaz, has had to apply to Southampton City Council for retrospective planning permission to keep the centre.

In a consultation sent out to residents, 84 people objected to the site being kept open with 42 in favour.

Despite having been open for six years, many residents are still concerned about its positioning on Victoria Road.

One said they are ‘aghast’, citing parking problems and claiming that a ‘mosque will have a negative impact all round’.

Another said: “A neighbour told me there was an obstruction on the footpath with crowds of men outside it and it made her feel very intimidated and scared.

“We should feel safe walking around Woolston to shop.”

One resident said there is ‘not a demand for this population’ in Woolston and there are other religious centres ‘already available elsewhere’ in the city.

They added the centre would not benefit the greater need of the local community.

However, one 55-year-old Woolston resident who uses the centre said ‘this is the only religious centre’ to observe prayers.

He said: “Since the centre has opened, I don’t need to drive 15 minutes into the city centre, try to find a parking space, offer prayers – and then drive back another 15 minutes.

“Now, I just walk to the centre to offer my Friday prayer and quickly go back to my work.

“It is eco-friendly to have a local prayer space.

“If it is closed that would be a massive loss of time, energy – and it would not help the environment either.”

Woolston’s Muslim demographic is almost three times lower than Southampton as a whole, with Muslim people making up under two per cent of the ward’s population, compared to 5.6 per cent in the city.

Council planning officers replied to comments about there being ‘not a demand’ by saying: “The planning assessment is focused on the land use issues associated with a place of worship/learning centre.

“This does not include judgements on faiths or assessment of the type of worship facilities within the community.

“This religious and learning centre would form part of a wide range of facilities within the district centre to meet the needs of the community.”

Mr Oztas said that it has received ‘widespread support’ from the local Muslim community and business owners alike.

He said: “The retrospective planning application submitted by the Woolston Learning Centre, which has been operating in Woolston for six years, has been met with enthusiasm from residents and business owners who have expressed their belief that the learning centre should certainly continue to serve the community as it is a positive addition to the area and the local economy.”

Mr Oztas also spoke about how the centre has never caused any problems whatsoever and how it offers a reading class for children and women, a tea circle – and has raised £100,000 for victims of the 2022 earthquake in Turkey.

Specific objections to the centre include parking concerns, noise – and the need for more shops.

Mr Islam went on to talk about what can be done to combat Islamophobia in the city.

He said: “Educate people, allow places like this to get planning so they can open the door to the public, Muslim and non-Muslim so they can better educate people.

“The benefit will be immense for the local business, the local services and the local community.

“I believe the council needs to consider the application on merit and consider the well-being of the community that wants this.”

Not everybody in Woolston wants the centre to close.

Many residents have expressed their support, citing the fact that the place has been open for six years and never had any problems.

One resident echoed Mr Islam’s comments by saying: “Religious centres should not be judged in terms of their faith.

“The centre would be a positive step for the community, increase the resilience and strength of the community, and promote inclusivity and diversity in the area.

“It is the only mosque on the eastern side of the city. It offers opportunities for families, children’s education, youth programmes, and activities for Muslim ladies.”

Another added: “The re-use of the vacant building has benefited the local shopping area.

“The centre has operated for many years without any problems.

“People visit local shops while they wait for their children and this helps

the local economy and businesses.

“The users are respectful to their neighbours, shops and residents surrounding it.”

The city council’s planning panel will decide whether or not the Woolston Learning Centre can stay open on Tuesday.