"[T]he AMYA has for decades volunteered and organised a multitude of sporting, voluntary and charitable activities across the wider area."
Source/Credit: Farnham Herald
By Farnham Herald | August 19, 2017
More than 70 residents have objected to the temporary change of use of land south of Grange Road in Tilford for a two-day youth event, with only 17 in support.
The application (WA/2017/0903) is for the use of land for a youth event run by MKA, the youth arm of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Communities between September 15 to 17.
The festival, which encourages youths to participate in educational and sporting activities, has been running annually for 30 years on another nearby site at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Islamabad in Sheephatch Lane.
However, this is no longer possible, which is why the event has requested permission to host the event at the new location in Grange Road.
Residents object on the grounds that it will lead to an increase in traffic problems, and that the festival may ruin the current “area of outstanding natural beauty with all its protected wildfire and fauna that everyone has worked hard for many years to nurture”.
A Rushmoor resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that many residents only heard about this application because the Farnham Herald covered it in June:
“We’ve never been consulted by Waverley Borough Council, and yet we’re probably the people most affected by the application. Only four people have been consulted and two of those are employees of the applicant and live in his houses (tenants), the other two are very elderly.
“It’s been stirred up in a big way, and we have submitted letters of objection. It’s very serious, and they’re applying for an annual application.
“It’s in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and next to the Frensham Pond Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).”
In response to the residents’ worries, Okasha Ahmad, chairman of the AMYA Youth event, said that the points raised by the residence have been noted by the organisers:
“Their views and well-being are very important to us and have been discussed in detail as part of the planning permission submitted by the site owner.”
According to Okasha, as part of this process Waverley Borough Council has liaised with all necessary statutory bodies, including Natural England, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Surrey Archaeological Unit, Surrey County Highways and the National Trust.
Each consultee has assessed the event and positive responses have been received to the detailed traffic and environmental plans submitted.
“We believe that Waverley Borough Council have followed all the required notification procedures with regards to the planning application,” continued Okasha.
“We are still currently engaged with the planning process and very much hope that consent will be granted in the near future.
“I would like to add that the AMYA has for decades volunteered and organised a multitude of sporting, voluntary and charitable activities across the wider area.
“It has been our pleasure to do so and we have always been moved by the great warmth and kindness that we have received from the local community.”
Should anyone from the area like to join the community during one of their event days and see the activities they would be more than welcome.
View the application online on the Waverley site at www.waverley.gov.uk.
Read original post here: UK: Residents object to Ahmadiyya Muslim youth convention citing traffic and environmental concerns
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