Planning 'Offensive' comments removed from mosque bid

THE comments on a planning application to expand Weston-super-Mare's mosque have been removed from public view by North Somerset Council after it was overwhelmed with “offensive” objections.

- John WIMPERIS

Weston Islamic Education Centre on Waterloo Street recently purchased the building next door and has submitted a planning application to renovate the buildings into one larger mosque. The application states: “The aim is to create a landmark community facility that meets the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the local Muslim population while enhancing the site's contribution to Weston-super-Mare’s urban landscape.”

Now all public comments left on the application on the council's planning portal have been removed from public view. Instead, a public notice left on the planning portal on Tuesday states: “Having received a significant number of comments which we consider to be offensive and which could cause distress, we have put in place measures to remove from our website all comments sent to us about this application.”