AN overwhelming surge of public support for the proposal has prompted Thurrock Council to give the green light for plans to expand the mosque in Grays Town Park.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News in October, Thurrock Islamic Education and Cultural Association has approached Thurrock Council for permission to expand the building in the recreation grounds at the end of Park Road.

The proposal is to demolish the existing clipped gable roof and construct an additional floor with a new pitched roof.

The development will provide seven windows and two roof lights on the western elevation facing the public recreational space and no additional windows or roof lights facing the rear of adjacent properties on Clarence Road.

It will also include additional toilets, kitchen and a prayer hall on the first floor.

A detailed breakdown of the purposes of the mosque, operational hours and its recent history can be found here.

After the application was submitted, Thurrock council has revealed it received 74 public comments, with just four against the scheme on the grounds that the extension would overlook residential properties, the need for the mosque had outgrown existing building and is over-spilling onto the park area and noise.

However, the other 70 submissions were supportive, citing improvements to local diversity, the creation of an opportunity for people to practice their beliefs, improvements for the safety of the Muslim community and a reduction in the number of people having to pray outside - while there would be an increased education opportunity.

Planning officers, who made the decision, were told the vast majority of worshippers arrive either by themselves locally or in small groups.

There are five daily congregational prayers where roughly 20 people a day come to visit. The only time when the site will be used to its capacity is during the mid-day prayer on Fridays.

This prayer session lasts around an hour between 1 and 2pm. There are also evening classes for around 40 to 45 children which run from 5 to 7pm. The classes have been in place consecutively for the past 10 years.

A condition added to the planning permission is that no externally played amplified sounds, including 'calling to prayer' will be permitted.