Decision on Afghan community centre plan postponed

A decision on whether an Afghan community centre can be opened in a South Harrow street has been postponed for a site visit.

The Imam Hussein Foundation has applied to Harrow Council to change the use of empty Veneto House in Park Drive into a place where visitors can enjoy educational, cultural and religious activities.

On February 25 members of the authority's development management committee opted to postpone taking a decision on the scheme in order to make a site visit.

The charitable foundation behind the plan has submitted a petition of 925 names in support while residents have raised their own petition because they feel the proposed location is entirely unsuitable.

Veneto House neighbour Vyan Gresty, 58, said parking and traffic problems, and more disturbance, were people's main concerns.

He said: "It's the total unsuitability of the building itself. We've against even limited use.
"We've got four schools around us within 200 yards and we get lorries delivering to the tile shop - from 8am we get that.

"Realistically, I cannot see how the council could possibly have taken a decision without seeing the site."

Documents submitted to the council by the foundation state it intends to teach languages, particularly English, in groups of up to 15 students, and to hold religious services mainly comprising poetry and prayers.

Women's groups and youth groups, and lectures and seminars on educational topics, would also be arranged, and the foundation has the community centre capacity would be 100 and that its community use would be restricted.

Mr Gresty said when the warehouse was operational "it never had more than six people working there."

He added: "I haven't seen a proposal like this in all the time I've lived here."

The site visit is scheduled for later this month prior to the development management committee's next meeting.