Residents living near Jamei Mosque in Winton, Bournemouth, say they are struggling with noise, traffic and parking problems as attendance at the place of worship has grown.
The mosque, which can accommodate as many as 600 people, is now seeking permission to expand into the roof space of its large detached building.
The proposed development would include a new meeting room and a first-floor assembly room for women and children.
However, nearby homeowners fear the expansion could worsen problems they say are already affecting their daily lives.
Early Morning Prayers Disrupt Sleep
Some residents claim they are regularly disturbed by worshippers arriving for pre-dawn prayers, with one homeowner saying her family has been woken at around 4am.
Beverley Gilbert, 62, who has lived on the street for 34 years, said the disruption had become difficult for her family.
“I was woken at 4.30am today and it seems like there are prayers every day, at all hours of the day,” she said.
Ms Gilbert stressed that she had no objection to the presence of a mosque in the neighbourhood, but argued that worshippers should comply with local rules.
She compared the situation with restrictions that would apply to residents making excessive noise late at night.
“If I was playing loud music I would be expected to stop by 11pm and it would be the same if you were throwing a party,” she said.
Microphones And Gravel Add To Complaints
According to residents, the disturbance is not limited to the prayers themselves.
They say the Imam’s use of a microphone amplifies the sound, while vehicles travelling across the gravel car park create significant noise, particularly late at night and during early morning arrivals.
Ms Gilbert said conversations among worshippers outside the mosque could also be heard after services.
“My eight-year-old grandchild cries because she can’t get to sleep, even though we have double glazing,” she said.
She added that the sound of car tyres moving over the gravel could be particularly loud and claimed there had been occasions when residents’ vehicles were blocked in.
Parking Becomes A Flashpoint
Parking has emerged as another major source of friction between the mosque and people living nearby.
Residents claim worshippers regularly leave vehicles on double-yellow lines, near junctions and across driveways, particularly during busy periods such as Friday prayers.
Some say arguments have broken out when residents have asked drivers to move their vehicles.
One homeowner, who did not want to be identified, said the mosque had been relatively small when it opened more than two decades ago and that the current problems had developed as attendance increased.
“When the mosque first opened I don’t remember there being problems,” she said.
“But it has outgrown itself for its location as this is a residential area with narrow streets.”
She described cars being parked on both sides of the road and extending towards corners, which she said reduced visibility for motorists.
“There are so many cars parked illegally, especially for Friday prayers, that I fear it’s an accident waiting to happen,” she added.
Residents Reject Claims Of Prejudice
Those opposing the development have been keen to distinguish their planning objections from opposition to Islam or the existence of a mosque.
Ms Gilbert said she was not opposed to having a mosque nearby and insisted her concerns were about noise, parking and compliance with council regulations.
The anonymous resident similarly argued that the issue was the suitability of the site for an increasingly busy place of worship rather than the identity of those attending it.
She said the growing number of worshippers had created an increasingly difficult relationship between residents and the mosque.
“Tensions are starting to grow between the mosque and the residents,” she said.
She also described feeling uncomfortable when large numbers of people remained gathered outside after prayers, particularly when walking alone.
Proposed Expansion Fuels Further Opposition
Residents fear the proposed extension could bring even more worshippers to an area they already believe is struggling to cope with existing demand.
The plans would make use of the building’s roof space and introduce additional facilities on the first floor.
However, neighbours argue that increasing the mosque’s capacity without resolving existing parking and noise concerns would intensify the problems.
The anonymous resident also objected to the potential impact on her property, saying the proposed extension would overlook her garden and affect her privacy.
Another neighbour, Delia Harris, said she was concerned about the increased intensity of use of the property and the potential disruption to the surrounding community.
Mosque Appeals For Consideration
Jamei Mosque has already taken steps to encourage worshippers to be considerate towards people living nearby.
A notice displayed on the building asks worshippers to respect neighbours when leaving and encourages them to leave the area “quickly and quietly”.
The notice also specifically tells attendees not to park on double-yellow lines and asks them to respect residents’ driveways.
Despite those efforts, some homeowners believe the existing measures have not resolved the underlying problems and are questioning whether the site can accommodate further growth.
The dispute now centres on whether the proposed expansion can go ahead while addressing the concerns of residents who say the mosque’s increasing popularity has placed growing pressure on the surrounding residential streets.
