The Hindus in Leicester are protesting against a criticism about turning a simple local planning permission objection to a communal agenda. Belper Street in Leicester is a busy street, surrounded by many commercial properties, post office, school and community centres. A new request has been made for converting a warehouse at 86 Belper Street into a new nursery, prayer facility and education centre for Muslims. The local residents had a public meeting on Friday evening, that was attended by Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Cllr John Thomas, Cllr Manjula Sood and around 350 local residents of many faiths and communities. The topic of discussion was congestion in the area, and objection to have this new addition to this narrow street.
The Belper Street is right in the heart of the Belgrave area, that are home to important places in Leicester. Once upon a time 'the address' for Asians who arrived after Idi Amin's expulsion from East Africa in 1970s, now it is a residence of many faiths, communities and cultures- an example of real integration in Leicester.
Running parallel to Belper Street are three main streets: Weymouth, Surrey and Melrose Street, all join or cut through Catherine Street, which is a really busy street and one of the biggest in the Belgrave area, with infant and junior schools, army reserve centres, lounges etc on two sides. There is a Hindu temple in Weymouth Street, a church, two factories and a taxi company. It runs parallel to Surrey Street, that is a home to an elderly Asian centre, Sapphire Hall, two pubs and two nurseries with around 45 vacancies. Belper Street is a short and busy residential street running parallel and adjoined to Surrey Street at one end, has a massive school and a corner shop. Parallel to this is Melrose Street, which has a post office, garages, a beauty salon and hair dresser.
The application for the Muslim nursery is for 12 children, a prayer hall and education centre for 15-20 people, keeping it small and for local residents only. But it is apparent with no mosques nearby, it will be an attraction for Muslims living around and close-by that will increase traffic and parking issues in the area, a local resident told Asian Voice. There are a total of around 20 mosques and education centre near Leicester General hospital, which is around 3 miles from Belper Street.
The local residents have been campaigning to increase housing in Belper Street, opposing anything that may increase commercial traffic in the area.
Bharti Acharya, an interpretor at the public meeting that was attended by 350 people in the Peepul centre at Orchardson Road on Friday, told the newspaper, “It is not a Hindu or Muslim concern here. Residents are worried about their health and safety, congestion, welfare of children and the elderly. It's a very Victorian part of the city with a very narrow street. We need more housing here, not another nursery or education centre. Also how can you stop people coming from far? How do you define who is local? The proposition of checking postcode against interest is absurd. Not everyone will come by foot, then where do we have parking for so many people? Even the next streets are full and they can't afford more inflow of traffic or parking. However, if the Council can sort this out, we residents have no issues. At the moment, Belper Street cannot afford this.”
Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP and Cllr John Thomas have shown concerns, while the discussion and petitions against the new planning permission continue. Fayaz Suleman who represented the new centre's planning group, emphasised this is only meant for local residents, coming by foot and will not add extra traffic. They will be turned away if they are from a different postcode.
But another local resident who was also present at the Saturday meeting said, “I know it's a freedom of choice for people where they want to send their children to, but why do you need a separate nursery for Muslims, when we have two nurseries down the road, with 45 vacancies and seven education centres? Even if this was a temple or a church asking for the same, we would have asked the same questions. People who are claiming this to be a faith clash, have blinkers on. This is one of the most vibrant areas in Belgrave. I would urge Asian Voice to highlight our actual concerns and help us resolve it soon.”
Cllr Thomas John said, "My objection to this planning permission is entirely based on congestion and traffic. There is no racial element to it."
Vaz and Suleman were unavailable to comment.
