Islamic Trust gets permission for mortuary

Albert Road householder Andy Wall spoke of behalf of residents at the meeting, and said: "When Surrey Islamic Trust took ownership of the building formerly known as St Augustine's Church we were told in writing that the purpose of the site was as an education centre.

"Since it opened three years ago we have had to endure the daily arrival of 40 plus cars at unsociable hours, cars driven at excessive speed, noise disturbance and persistent spitting in the street.

"Now, in addition to these incursions on our quality of life we are expected to endure the additional disruption caused by on site funerals."

Trustee and secretary of Surrey Islamic Trust, Kamal Yakub, said the cold store room would be used to house no more than four bodies a year, and told the meeting: "The cold store room would only be for users of the centre, not commercial business. We would only be using it occasionally, and will not be a disturbance."

His claim sparked outcries from the public gallery, where around 40 residents gathered to hear the meeting.

Councillor Peggy Broadhead was the only committee member to vote against the proposal, and said: "There is absolutely no need for a mortuary in Albert Road, it's unnecessary, especially when they can use the facilities at Woking. It's awful to think that there is going to be a mortuary in the centre of a residential area."

But her vote was over ruled and the Trust was given the green light to go ahead with the plan.

Leader of the Council, Cllr John Furey, said he sympathised with residents' feelings but there was little councillors could object to in the application from a planning point of view.

He said: "I feel for the residents, and I wish I could vote against this, but we have a legal requirement to assess the proposal from a planning perspective."

Councillor Broadhead said after the meeting: "I'm grieving for my residents, it's been such a distressing affair."

No date for the start of construction has been set, as the Islamic Trust is still waiting for funds before work can begin.

Mr Yakub said: "We are pleased with the outcome, this is a very necessary application we have made."

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A SECOND application by Surrey Islamic Trust for retrospective planning permission to enlarge and resurface the car park of its education centre was also approved at the meeting.

The application was recommended for refusal by planning officers but was passed by chairman of the committee, Cllr Geoffrey Woodger, who used his vote in favour of the plan when 12 councillors were divided, with three abstentions.

If the application had been refused, the Trust would have been forced to remove the car park.