SCOUT HUT READY TO OPEN AS CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Scout hut ready to open as centre for community

A former Scout hut at the heart of a long row over plans to lease it to a Muslim group is to reopen as a community building this weekend.

The Forgotten Estates group has refurbished the property in Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, and intends to lease it out as a venue for clubs and community groups.

The group was formed in opposition to Leicester City Council's plans to allow As-Salaam Muslim community group to take over the hut.

The council rethought the idea after months of protests by residents outside a nearby community centre where As-Salaam was already meeting to pray.

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby agreed the Forgotten Estates Committee would be given the lease on the hut, in Nursery Road, for two years rent-free.

Maxine Williams, landlady of the Stirrup Cup pub and founding member of Forgotten Estates, said: "We are very nearly ready to reopen.

"We have had new windows and guttering, a kitchen fitted and fire doors put in. It looks like a totally different building."

She said it would be renamed The 55th – after the Scout group that once met there.

She thanked residents who had raised thousands of pounds toward the refurbishment of the building, as well as tradespeople who had donated time and materials to the project.

She said: "People's generosity has made this happen. The 55th will be used most days of the week.

"We are currently putting the final touches to the groups and the timings."

As-Salaam said it had now agreed terms with the city council over leasing the council-owned Raven Centre, next to Thurnby Lodge Community Centre.

Imam Mohammed Lockhat said the group had started moving in, ahead of formally taking over the lease on April 1.

As-Salaam had previously said it could not afford the city council's asking price for rent, but he said terms had now been agreed.

He said: "We are in the process of moving in. We have resolved all of the issues."

He said the protests which cost more than £200,000 to police and had deterred some worshippers from attending prayers, had stopped.

He said: "There have not been any protests for about a month.

"That is we are getting back to normal.

"I am trying to get all those people who were scared to come to return, but that is taking time."

Sir Peter said: "We have reached a position where everybody involved has the opportunity to fulfil their hopes and ambitions.

"It has taken a lot of patience from everyone involved and I would like to thank them for that."

LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE: "NO TOLERANCE FOR DISCRIMINATION"

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicestershire Police: "No tolerance for discrimination"

Police have warned that there is no tolerance in Leicester for discrimination.

They spoke after Liam Ferrar (24) admitted religiously-aggravated harassment aimed at the Muslim community.

The force said Ferrar was arrested and charged within three days of the incident, in which he left a pig's head outside a community centre in Thurnby Lodge, in the city, where a Muslim group held prayers.

Superintendent Mark Newcombe said: "This was clearly a religiously- motivated offence which was directed at those using the community centre as a Muslim place of worship, who found the incident extremely upsetting and shocking.

"We have no tolerance for discrimination in Leicester, of any kind, and the majority of people in the area were left very upset by the incident."

He said he hoped that Thursday's hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court would "send a clear message to people like Ferrar, that all those in the criminal justice system will do all they can to bring you to justice".

Judith Walker, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Everyone has the right to practice their faith without fear of harassment.

"There is no place in our community for this kind of action that deliberately targets people on the grounds of their religion and the Crown Prosecution Service takes this kind of offending extremely seriously.

"Liam Ferrar admitted that he had left the head at the community centre and, in charging the offence, we were satisfied that his actions were motivated by hostility to cause shock and distress.

"Pigs hold a particular significance in the Muslim faith and this action was highly offensive to his victims."

The court was told that on the evening of December 25 last year, Ferrar went to Thurnby Lodge Community Centre, in Thurncourt Road, and placed the pig's head by the locked doors.

The head was facing outwards, towards the worshippers from Muslim group As Salaam, who arrived at the centre the following morning, Boxing Day.

The community centre has been the scene of regular protests since the summer over a former Scout hut nearby, which Leicester City Council was going to allow As Salaam members to use for prayers instead of the community centre.

The protesters wanted the Scout hut to be kept for use by the wider community.

LEICESTER MAYOR PETER SOULSBY GIVES HIS DECISION IN THURNBY LODGE SCOUT HUT ROW

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby gives his decision in Thurnby Lodge scout hut row

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has resolved a bitter dispute over the future of a disused Scout hut.

Demonstrations – some involving hundreds of people and a heavy police presence – have been taking place in Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, for the past six months over plans by a Muslim charity to turn the hut into a community centre.

But yesterday, Sir Peter announced a plan which appears to have satisfied both sides in the dispute. The protesters, who have formed a group called the Forgotten Estates Committee, will be given the lease on the Scout hut for two and a half years rent-free.

The group has told Leicester City Council it will develop it as a community centre.

The Muslim charity, the As-Salaam Trust, has been told it can have the lease to another city council-owned building, the Raven Centre, which is next to the Thurnby Lodge Community Centre, where the charity has been meeting for prayers for the past three years.

Sir Peter said a "small number" of groups which use the Raven Centre will transfer to Thurnby Lodge Community Centre, or other local council buildings.

Mohamed Lockhat, As-Salaam Trust's imam, said: "We are happy a solution has been found. Some people have felt very passionately about the Scout hut, but everyone will be able to work together for the good of the community."

Maxine Williams, licensee of the estate's Stirrup Cup pub and a founding member of the Forgotten Estates Committee, said: "Everybody I have spoken to so far about Peter Soulsby's decision has been ecstatic.

"When we first heard that As-Salaam wanted the Scout hut we knew it was the wrong place because of problems with traffic and noise.

"The Raven Centre is in the community centre complex, so car parking is available for As-Salaam's members."

The Forgotten Estates Committee has collected thousands of pounds for its plan to turn the Scout hut into a community centre.

It followed a public consultation in which questionnaires were sent to 7,000 households in Thurnby Lodge and neighbouring Netherhall.

Some 1,400 responses were returned to the council – a turnout of about 20 per cent.

Most backed the plan unveiled by Sir Peter yesterday, which was one of two options on the questionnaire.

"This option meets everyone's needs, and I am therefore offering both groups the opportunity to make this happen," said Sir Peter. "I think both groups recognise we have worked very hard with them to find a solution which meets everyone's hopes and needs. Both recognise there is a need to move forward in a constructive way and I've been encouraged by the responses both have given.''

The protests began in August and were held outside Thurnby Lodge Community Centre when As-Salaam members met for prayers.

A police operation was launched to make sure the protests remained peaceful after complaints that worshippers felt intimidated.

Two months after the protests started, the Mercury reported the cost of policing them had reached £200,000.

The final total is unknown.

On Boxing Day, a pig's head was found outside the centre.

A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident and is due to appear in court later this month.

FALSE PICTURE OF THURNBY LODGE

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

False picture of Thurnby Lodge

I've been very disappointed to read all the negative stories about Thurnby Lodge Estate over the last few months.

The issue concerning the sale of the Scout Hut still rumbles on. I wonder how many residents returned the consultation letter which Leicester City Council sent out recently?

I'd be interested to know just how much this latest effort to reach a solution has cost.

There is no sign of an end to the confrontation that is still taking place outside the community centre and now we have a story of racial comments aimed at a female fire fighter collecting for charity on the estate.

This is not a true picture of the essence of the community spirit on the estate. The majority of residents are indifferent to the protesters who meet outside the community centre and I believe most, like me, will be appalled to read about the story of racism.

As Christmas Day approaches, let us be reminded of what it's really all about – that love came down at Christmas and brought peace and goodwill to all.

May that peace prevail in Thurnby Lodge.

Rev Lynn Padmore, Priest-in-Charge, Christ Church, Thurnby Lodge

LEICESTER MAYOR SIR PETER SOULSBY: "LET'S RESOLVE SCOUT HUT ROW"

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby: "Let's resolve scout hut row"

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says he hopes to resolve a long-running row over the lease of a former Scout hut before Christmas.

For months, some residents of Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, have been protesting against Muslim community group As-Salaam's plans to take over the disused building in Nursery Road.

They have been gathering outside a nearby community centre used on a daily basis by worshippers from As-Salaam.

A residents' group, The Forgotten Estates, said it would like the building to be open to the wider community, not just Muslims.The Scout hut is on council-owned land.

A debate was held at the Town Hall on Thursday, triggered by the submission of a 1,500-signature petition against As-Salaam's plans.

Mohammed Lockhat, spokesman for As-Salaam, said: "I would urge you to finalise the lease with As-Salaam as a matter of urgency as your delay only serves to increase tensions within the community."

Mr Lockhat told the council As-Salaam members were regularly harassed and intimidated by the protesters.

He handed over a 3,700-name petition supporting the group's takeover of the Scout hut.

However, it was not formally accepted as it only carried certain details of the signatories.

As-Salaam said people were too afraid to add their full details.

Sir Peter said: "I do hope this can be brought to a speedy solution.

"I would hope that it will be resolved before Christmas."

He acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and thanked the representative of both As-Salaam and The Forgotten Estates for taking part in discussions with him.

A proposed package has been drawn up, though details have only been released to interested parties.

Forgotten Estates spokeswoman Maxine Williams, of the Stirrup Cup pub, said the group's committee did not condone the intimidation of As-Salaam members.

She said after the meeting: "I can understand how they feel.

"It can be intimidating but any protest like this will attract a certain element. We want the protests to be peaceful and amicable."

She said the group had been raising money and was now in a position to take over the Scout hut lease.

It would aim to use it for a boxing club, dance groups and as a gym.

PROTESTS SPARK RETHINK ON ISLAMIC PRAYER ROOM PLAN

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Protests spark rethink on Islamic prayer room plan

The city council is reconsidering plans to allow a Muslim community group to lease a disused Scout hut.

The As-Salaam Trust is hoping to turn the property in Thurncourt Road, Thurnby Lodge, into a community centre and prayer room.

But some residents have staged protests against the plan, gathering in groups – sometimes hundreds strong – outside a nearby community centre where Muslims have been meeting to pray for the past two-and-a-half years.

Protesters fear the plans will cause traffic problems.

They have stressed their demonstrations are not anti-Islamic but aimed at the city council, which owns the land on which the Scout hut is built and which had agreed to sell the hut lease to As-Salaam.Protesters want the hut to be used as a boxing club for youngsters from the estate.

The city council has now said that, with As-Salaam's agreement, it is seeking an alternative site the organisation could use as a community centre.

City mayor Peter Soulsby has met residents and members of the trust and told them council officers will look at all options available.

He has promised to meet them again next month when officers have completed that work.

Sir Peter said: "I am committed to finding a way forward to address the current difficulties in Thurnby Lodge so we can return to a situation of collaboration and harmony in the area."

Leaflets are being delivered to about 1,300 homes to let residents know the council will not complete on the lease while officers are looking at other options that might better meet the needs of As-Salaam.

However, the council says if alternative premises cannot be found for As-Salaam, negotiations on the sale of the lease will resume.

The authority says that, of 100 groups expressing an interest in the building, only As-Salaam could meet the lease criteria.

The council has also said it will look for a venue that can host the boxing club, which was interested in the Scout hut but did not have the funds in place to buy the lease.

As-Salaam's imam, Mohammed Lockhat, said: "We are negotiating with the council. We live in Thurnby Lodge and we would not want to have to travel far to pray.

"Nobody is happy with the situation."

He said worshippers had been "very patient", but some had stopped attending prayers because there had been a "level of intimidation" from some protesters.

Maxine Williams, landlady of the Stirrup Cup pub, next to the Scout hut, has helped organise the protests.

She said she hoped the council would be able to find As-Salaam another site.

"A prayer room in that building would be incompatible with my business and would cause all sorts of traffic problems," she said.

WHY IS AN ESTATE OUT ON STREETS IN PROTEST?

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Why is an estate out on streets in protest?

It's an unlikely setting for an ongoing night-after-night street protest.

However, hundreds of people have been gathering in Thurncourt Road, on Leicester's Thurnby Lodge estate, for some weeks now to protest against an Islamic charity's plan to turn a disused Scout hut into a community centre and prayer room.

On Friday, the number of people taking part swelled towards the 400 mark – with about 50 police officers there to oversee it.

The Leicester Mercury has spoken to people on both sides of the debate and to the city council, which is working to resolve the dispute.

The building at the heart of this is the Scout hut in Nursery Road.

The Scout Association paid for the hut to be built in 1974 and it was a busy base for the movement for almost 30 years.

However, the decision to close it was taken 10 years ago.

Peter Hardy, the association's deputy district commissioner, said: "Unfortunately, the leaders who had given great service to the Thurnby Lodge group for many years decided to step down. We tried to find new leaders in the community but there was no response."

After its closure in May 2002, the building lay all but unused, apart from some occasional use by other groups.

It became the centre of the current dispute earlier this year when it became apparent that a charity, the As-Salaam Trust, had stepped forward and wanted to turn it into a community centre.

The trust indicated last week that it would open the centre to the wider community and indicated it would consider reviving the Scout group if there was sufficient local support.

Its members have been meeting at the neighbouring community centre in Thurncourt Road for the past two and a half years. Those meetings have been the focus of the recent protests – which have coincided with the holy month of Ramadan. Residents involved in the protests – some of which have lasted long into the night – insist their argument is with the city council, not the trust.

They believe local people's suggestions for other uses of the building – including a combination of boxing club, gym and dance studio – have not been taken seriously.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and his team say they are talking to the people behind that proposal and hope to find a suitable venue for it in the same area.

The council said it contacted 100 community groups who previously said they needed a new base, to tell them the building could be available. As-Salaam came forward at that point.

The protesters also believe the proposed community centre would bring extra traffic to the area, particularly as it is in a narrow road which is also a bus route.

Maxine Williams, licensee of the neighbouring Stirrup Cup pub, has been at the centre of the group which is organising the protests. She said the protesters' anger was not directed at the Muslim group.

She said: "It all started when someone at the community centre got an e-mail about the Scout hut.

"When it became clear what was happening, we did the correct thing and put a petition forward because we wanted a say over what was happening in our community. There was no consultation and no notices put up in the street, so people felt they weren't being told what was going on."

The future of the Scout hut was to be discussed at the area's regular ward meeting last month. So many people turned up that the meeting was abandoned because it would have breached the building's capacity.

The abandonment of the meeting and the subsequent decision to cancel a ward councillors' surgery a few weeks later angered people.

Residents have said they will continue to stage their street protests, although last Friday's, which drew up to 400 people, was the "big one".

At times, between 30 and 50 police officers have been drafted in to oversee the protests. No arrests have been made. Vanessa McKinnon took part in Friday's protest.

The 40-year-old mum and grandmother to a one-year-old boy, said: "I didn't know that As-Salaam have been praying at the community centre for two and a half years but I can understand why they are looking for a permanent home. But people feel that they already have somewhere to meet.

"A lot of them are coming from far and wide to pray here. We feel there aren't enough things for young people on this estate and we need the council to do something about that.

"I can understand that some people from As-Salaam might be scared by the protests and that's why I have stood on the other side of the road when I've been down there because I don't want to intimidate anyone."

Protest organisers have told the Leicester Mercury they do not welcome the attentions of outside groups such as the British National Party and the English Defence League.

BNP leader Nick Griffin made an impromptu appearance on Friday evening and, reportedly, again yesterday morning. According to eyewitnesses he was greeted with indifference.

Another issue which has arisen is that unfounded rumours have begun circulating through the internet. These include a claim that the neighbouring Anglican Christ Church had been asked to cover its cross for fear of offending Muslims.

Canon David Monteith, Acting Archdeacon of Leicester, said: "There is no truth at all in the malicious rumour that the church was asked to cover the cross. The information is totally unfounded."

PLEA FOR CALM AFTER PROTESTS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Plea for calm after protests

An appeal for calm has been made after an escalation in protests against a Muslim charity's plan to turn a disused building into a community centre.

Up to 400 people took part in a protest on Friday night against the proposal for the former Scout hut in Nursery Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester.

A charity, the As-Salaam Trust, whose members have been meeting on the estate for two-and-a-half years, looks likely to take on the building.

But some residents say they would prefer the building, which has not been in full-time use for four years, to be developed for the wider community.

They are also concerned about extra traffic the centre might create.The recent protests have been held outside the estate's main community centre, in Thurncourt Road, where As-Salaam's members meet for prayers.

Protesters said the city council had not asked them for their views on the future use of the Scout hut. Some back a proposal to set up a boxing club and gym in it.

Up to 50 police officers – including some drafted in from other parts of the county – were on duty for Friday night's protest, which was the largest so far.

Earlier in the evening, British National Party leader Nick Griffin made a brief appearance.

Later, a number of men and youngsters were reprimanded by protesters for directing threatening insults at people as they left the community centre after prayers.

Maxine Williams, manager of the Stirrup Cup pub, who has been taking part in the demonstrations and attended a meeting with city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby last week, said outside groups, including the BNP leader, were not welcome.

She said: "Our aim on Friday was to bring out the elderly, families and kids and that's what we did. There will still be protests, but that was the big one.

"We've had one meeting with Sir Peter Soulsby and it was productive. We'll meet him again in a couple of weeks."

However, another resident said: "The protests need to calm down.

People don't seem to realise that the atmosphere there has sometimes been really intimidating and some people have been aggressive."

Assistant city mayor Councillor Sarah Russell said yesterday that Sir Peter would be meeting protesters again in the near future.

Meanwhile, she said, the council was also looking at ways of addressing residents' concerns about potential traffic problems.

Councillor Russell said: "We would urge people to calm things down and communicate their concerns at meetings with us. We are listening to them.

"The boxing club people were not at the point where they could take the Scout hut on, but we are working with them to find them a suitable venue in the area.

"There are facilities in the area, including things for young people to do, and we are happy to work with people there to look at other things we could do."

Mohammed Lockhat, As-Salaam's imam, said earlier this week: "If we could sit down together and talk, we would be able to understand each other better.

"People have said they are concerned about traffic, but most of the people would be walking to the Scout hut because they live here."

The Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations has urged the council to continue speaking to residents to resolve the dispute.

Spokesman Suleman Nagdi said: "The issue has been such that there have been outside influences on the protests which have now grown to an alarming rate.

"Our perception is that these outside forces simply wish to destabilise our harmonious communities."

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said on Friday night: "The protests which have taken place in Thurnby Lodge this evening and earlier this week so far have passed without incident and no criminal offences have been committed.

"However, police will continue to monitor the situation."

FEDERATION OF MUSLIM ORGANISATIONS' PRESS RELEASE: THURNBY LODGE

Here's the text of a press release issued by the Federation of Muslim Organisations today:

The Federation of Muslim organisations are extremely concerned by recent reports of protests that have been witnessed at a community hall in Thurnby Lodge following its use as a prayer facility by local Muslims. The issue has been such that there have been outside influence on the protests which have now grown to an alarming rate.

It appears that these demonstrations have received support from organisations outside our city. Our perception is that these outside forces simply wish to destabilise our harmonious communities.

The Federation are extremely concerned that these disagreements should not escalate and that we must maintain to keep the stability and harmony in our local community relations. It has urged the Mayor and other key community leaders to intervene and to try to alleviate the concerns that are currently felt by members of the local community in the immediate area.

It is the Federation's ultimate aim that we are not influenced by outside forces and that we maintain the harmony and good community relations that “One Leicester” has enjoyed for many years and that we should all continue in our efforts to live in peace and with understanding and respect.

Suleman Nagdi MBE DL

11 August 2012 

OUR PROTESTS OVER HUT SET TO CONTINUE

This letter appears on today's Leicester Mercury:

Our protests over hut set to continue

I write in reply to your article in the Leicester Mercury "Protests staged over faith group plan for building".

Your first paragraph informs your readers of late-night protests. This is not true.

The latest time we have protested would have been in the region of 9pm, as I'm sure the videos the police took of us would bear out.

Other protests were much earlier. Also, another point that's missing from your article is the fact we had a meeting with the council on July 23, in our community centre, only for them to call it off on the grounds of health and safety, because more than 200 people attended, and the centre only holds 120.

Yet, every time I've attended a protest, there are well over 120 worshippers in the centre, with 40 to 50 cars completely filling the car park.

This was mentioned to a police officer, to which he replied, and I quote, "I'm not interested in health and safety, that's the council's problem".

Mohammed Lockhat, the prayer group's Imam, says there should be no concerns about traffic if they acquire the Scout hut for prayer rooms, as most of the people would walk there because they live locally.

That being the case, then why is the community car park overflowing with cars when they worship?

This "community" Scout hut is on a main bus route (classed as an A1 road, due to it's deeper foundations) and surrounded mainly by bungalows for the elderly. None of these people were consulted or asked their views and concerns regarding the prayer rooms.

The council has not followed due process and should be made accountable for the cost of policing these protests, which I am sure is costing us taxpayers an enormous amount of money.

It is only going to cost more, because I can assure you the people of this community will keep protesting until the council make the Scout hut available to the whole of the community.

Patrick McShane, Leicester

PROTESTS STAGED OVER FAITH GROUP PLAN FOR BUILDING

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Protests staged over faith group plan for building

A series of late-night protests have been staged against a faith group's plan to convert a disused Scout hut in Leicester into a community centre.

Dozens of police have been stationed in Thurnby Lodge estate for the past few nights to oversee the peaceful demonstrations, which at their height have attracted up to 150 people.

Residents said they were angry the former Scout hut in Nursery Road looked likely to become a community centre operated by Islamic charity the As-Salaam Trust.

They would like the building, which has been empty for several years, to be developed for the wider community.

They are also concerned about extra traffic the centre might create.

Opponents have held their protests outside the estate's main community centre, in Thurncourt Road, where As-Salaam's members have been meeting for prayers for the past two-and-a-half years.

They said the city council had not asked them for their views on the future use of the Scout hut.

Some support a proposal to set up a boxing club in the building.

Maxine Williams, manager of the Stirrup Cup pub, has been taking part in the demonstrations.

She said: "People are protesting because they feel that they have not been consulted and that the council has handed the keys to the Scout hut to As-Salaam.

"There is a lot of concern about the amount of traffic that it will bring and that people's peace will be shattered."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby was due to meet a group of residents today.

He said: "As-Salaam has been meeting in the area for some time and was looking for a permanent home.

"If the people who are interested in opening a boxing club can establish themselves, we will help them find suitable premises.

"However, our view was they were a long way from being in a position to take this building on."

Mohammed Lockhat, As-Salaam's imam, said: "If we could sit down together and talk, we would be able to understand each other better.

"People have said they are concerned about traffic, but most of the people would be walking to the Scout hut because they live here."

The Scout Association told the city council in September last year that it wanted to end its lease of the hut.

The council said it then contacted more than 100 community groups which had told it they were looking for premises.

Of the groups that expressed an interest, As Salaam was the only one that could meet the lease criteria agreed with the Scout Association, the council said in a leaflet which was delivered to homes on the estate last week.

A police spokeswoman said: "The police have a legal duty to facilitate a peaceful protest and have no powers to stop a demonstration."