Prayer centre search goes on for Oswestry Muslims
Muslims in Oswestry say they are hoping to follow the example of those in Shrewsbury by successfully finding a building to develop into a prayer centre.
Shrewsbury's first dedicated Muslim prayer centre received the backing of councillors on Thursday marking the end of a decade-long search by worshippers.
Muslims in Oswestry say they hope their search for a permanent home will also now prove successful after looking for their own base for more than a decade.
The group currently holds prayer meetings at the Eastern Oswestry Community Centre.
Oswestry businessman George Miah, chairman of the Shropshire Bangladeshi Welfare Society, said he was "delighted" councillors had backed the Shrewsbury plans.
But he said the decision did not mean Oswestry Muslims would give up their search for a home.
He said: "We pray five times a day so we can't be going back and forth to Shrewsbury five times a day, we really want a place to meet in Oswestry.
"We meet at the community centre but we are still looking for something else."
The group's plans to turn a former Oswestry church into the town's first Muslim prayer centre was abandoned this year due to cost.
Members of the Oswestry Muslim Society had hoped to transform a 19th century former Presbyterian church on Oswald Road into a permanent base.
Mr Miah added: "The place we are looking for does not have to be very big – just big enough for 50 to 60 people.
"The people I have spoken to in Oswestry are very supportive and hope we can find a place."
The bid did not go before Shropshire councillors for consideration at a planning committee after officers ruled that because it fitted policy permission could be given under delegated powers.
It comes as organisers of an online petition that backed plans for the Shrewsbury prayer centre thanked the hundreds of people who signed up.
The petition was organised by anti-racism group Hope Not Hate.
