Victory has been claimed by the Wokingham Islamic Centre, the originators of a petition that had called on Wokingham borough council to support the principle of establishing a new mosque in Wokingham.
The petition, which had gathered several hundred signatures prior to being withdrawn, said: “We call on the relevant authorities in Wokingham to support and approve the establishment of either a mosque or an Islamic community centre for the local Muslim community.
”Wokingham’s Muslim population has grown steadily in recent years to more than 10,000, yet there is currently no dedicated mosque or Islamic centre for daily prayers, community activities, youth development, education, and interfaith engagement.
“This has resulted in families travelling to other towns or hiring local venues to practice their faith and access essential community services.
“A mosque in Wokingham would provide a safe place of worship for local residents, support youth and educational programs, facilitate interfaith understanding and community cohesion, and promote wellbeing, charity initiatives, and positive social impact.
“We respectfully request the support of local councillors, planning authorities, and community stakeholders in helping secure approval for a suitable site and facilities for a mosque in Wokingham.”
Announcing the “victory, ” they wrote: “Great news – the council has now contacted us, and we will start discussions to explore the options available.”
“We will now withdraw the petition. as we have achieved the objective we were aiming for. “
“Thank you all for your unity and collective effort.”
Leader of WBC, Stephen Conway and Cllr Basit Alvi, attended Friday prayers on February 6.
Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, Wokingham borough council’s executive member for resident services, inclusion and fighting poverty, told Wokingham Today: “’The council is committed to supporting all members of our community.
“The councillors are aware that many muslims in Wokingham would like a mosque which is closer to them than the outskirts of Reading.
“We’ve met with community representatives on a number of occasions in the last couple of years to discuss this.
“Having seen the petition, council leader Stephen Conway and councillor Basit Alvi met with Wokingham Islamic Centre to discuss what they are looking for.
“They have also provided an introduction to a property agent who may be able to help them locate a suitable property in Wokingham’.
Leader of the council, Stephen Conway, added: “We need to ensure fairness and transparency, and make sure that everyone has equal opportunities.”
