A poll of 300 local residents in Newham on the subject of the proposed Mega-mosque.
Date Published: 21 Jun 2009
Categories: Public and communities | Social | UK
Description
Most local residents, including 6 in 10 local Muslims, prefer a mixed-use development instead of the proposed 'Olympics mega-mosque', says ComRes opinion poll
In the first-ever survey of local opinion about the mega-mosque proposed for West Ham, close to the site of the 2012 Olympics stadium, nearly 7 in 10 Newham residents (68%) said they would prefer a mixed-use development of houses, shops and community facilities to the 12,000-capacity religious complex (proposed for the site by Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat).
In the survey nearly 6 in 10 (58%) Muslim residents in Newham also said they would prefer a mixed-use development for the site.
Although Tablighi Jamaat have indicated publicly over the past 15 months that their proposals for the site will include a Muslim conference centre, an Islamic school for 500 boys as well as 12,000-capacity prayer halls, around 8 in 10 of all residents say they have not been given enough information about the proposals (75%) and that they need more as the proposals are likely to have a significant impact on the local community (81%).
"These first results are provisional as far as we are concerned and must be treated with caution," said Cllr Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance opposition group on Newham Council. "But they are helpful as Newham people have not previously been consulted widely enough – I believe they have been kept in the dark by Newham Council and Tablighi Jamaat. We need to know what local people - including Muslims - think about this massive project on our doorstep. And they are saying they need more information”.