Stockton mosque's call approved
A mosque’s proposal to broadcast a call to prayer once a week has received overwhelming support from councillors.
The Farooq E Azam Mosque and Islamic Centre asked for planning permission to broadcast the azan call to prayer on Fridays between 12 and 2pm. The call from the mosque on Bowesfield Lane, Parkfield, Stockton would last no more than two minutes and would be no louder than a vacuum cleaner under planning conditions.
As Stockton Council considered the proposal, planning services manager Simon Grundy said officers balanced the right to religious practice with the right of nearby residents to enjoy their homes. He said some might find the amplified call “intrusive”.
But he said conditions to lessen the impact, including the prayer being read just once for no more than two minutes, location of loudspeakers, controls over the decibel level and a noise suppressor, would “strike an appropriate balance”. He said: “With those controls we do not consider there is impact and harm.”
Planning officers recommended the plan for approval and a video clip was played to councillors of the Azan call. The mosque was the first in the North-east to recite azan in the open air, from its rooftop during lockdown.
Councillor Louise Baldock, representing Parkfield and Oxbridge, supported the plan saying the call to prayer would last a much shorter time than churches are allowed to ring bells. “It’ll bring much pleasure to the Muslim community,” she told the committee.
“I’ve see one or two objections from people who argue it’ll be too disruptive. But I’m aware for example that the council allows the Stockton Flyer to play out every day around 1.00. That lasts for four minutes, that’s twice as long as is proposed here.
“The majority of the objections seem to be from people who object to the Muslim faith. Some of the comments have been so racist in nature that I’m surprised frankly that we’ve allowed them to be published.
“An anonymous leaflet was circulated, mostly in Hartburn and Oxbridge, asking residents to object to these proposals, part of an orchestrated campaign to whip up tension in the local community. I’m delighted that despite this campaign, so few residents fell into the trap.
“Local people are not objecting in their droves. There are 37 objections, most of them live at least a mile away from the mosque. I’m proud that Stockton is not a racist town.”
Cllr Mohammed Javed said: “Maybe it will be heard a few streets away from the mosque but it won’t be heard a mile away. In some comments they said it would be heard in Durham. I said I’ve yet to find a speaker who can say something in Stockton and people will hear in Durham.
“Some of the comments (are) quite racist and I’m very proud that I’m part of Stockton Borough Council where racism is not allowed at all. I’m pleased that my community will be uplifted by this decision.”
Discussing the plan, Cllr Steve Walmsley said: “I’ve had more complaints about church bells ringing.
“It’s silly and frivolous, a lot of the stuff that’s come in, and clearly racist… There’s more council time wasted on complaints about parties and music banging relentlessly for hour after hour. Let’s get a bit of perspective about this, eh?”
Cllr Sylvia Walmsley said: “This is two minutes once a week. To me it’s not excessive at all. I have absolutely no problem with it.”
Cllr Barry Woodhouse said: “When I first read this I thought, oh dear, this is going to be really intrusive, then I found out it was two minutes, not two hours. I’m fairly well travelled across the world, I’ve heard these calls to prayer, to be honest they don’t bother me.”
Cllr Lynn Hall said it was difficult to enforce noise controls and she was “not assured” by officers’ assessments.
In response to noise queries from Cllr Tony Riordan, environment and health team manager Stephanie Landles said: “It is very much controlled. We have looked at the acoustic fields and how they change.”
Councillors voted 10-1 to approve the plan, with two absentions.