Plans for Thornliebank sports hall attracts 10 objections

Local Muslim community organisation Woodfarm Education Trust (WET) applied for full planning permission to extend Woodfarm Education Centre (WEC) on Burns Grove in Thornliebank in December.

The building is currently used daily for community purposes, including day-care, elderly drop-in services, educational purposes and limited sports uses, as well as weekly for prayer services on Fridays and twice yearly for Eid services.

If approved, the extension work would accommodate a sports hall in part of the existing car park and this facility would be used for a range of activities such as yoga, badminton, boxing, table tennis and snooker.

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Objectors have expressed concern that the development would further increase traffic volume in local streets and exacerbate current problems with congestion, speeding and inadequate parking provision.  

One said: “The amount of traffic and excessive parking along the pavements outside the (Our Lady of the Missions) primary school due to the carpark at WEC already being at bursting point means it's currently far too busy and should definitely not be extended.”

Another said: “The local streets are already under significant pressure, particularly at peak times.”

A third added: “Enlarging the property will only make a dangerous situation worse.”

In addition to the ten objections, a representation submitted by Woodfarm High School Parent Council stated “Whilst Woodfarm Parent Council has no objection to the building we are concerned that any increase in traffic in this area could exacerbate existing issues we have outside our school.”

“We are grateful that work has been undertaken to coordinate events so as to minimise congestion at school drop-off and pick-up,” they added.

“If however events should coincide in the future, has an increase in traffic been considered?”

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A letter accompanying the application, submitted by architects SGA Studio on behalf of WET, said that the needs of the community centre had been considered and a decision had been made that the best use of resources was to expand the facilities available to provide more sports and health and fitness.

They explained that some of the activities planned for the extension already take place within the centre but halls can become overcrowded with different groups, and the type of sports is limited by the spaces available.

The letter also stated that current services within the centre are timed to avoid peak times at the school and busy times during Eid are split into different services to avoid a build-up of numbers.

“The centre has run successfully for several years under the current management scheme and is considered a valuable resource by the local Muslim community,” it added.