Gillingham's £6 Million 'Super-Mosque' Project Stalls, Drawing Ire from Local Residents
Neighbours of a £6 million unfinished 'super-mosque' in Gillingham, Kent, have voiced strong complaints, describing the empty shell of a building as an 'eyesore' that more closely resembles a multistorey car park than a place of worship. The structure, intended to feature a 92-foot high minaret, a dome, and segregated prayer rooms, has been under construction for nearly a decade, leaving residents fed up with the unsightly view in the town centre.
Funding Shortfall Halts Progress
The project, initiated by the charity Kent Muslim Welfare Association (KMWA), has ground to a halt due to financial difficulties. After an initial investment of £2 million, KMWA is now searching for an additional £4 million to complete the mosque, which was ironically meant to replace an old car park at the site. This funding gap has left the building in a state of limbo, with no clear timeline for completion.
Residents Voice Their Frustrations
Local residents have not held back in expressing their dissatisfaction. Joanne Virtue, a 57-year-old NHS healthcare assistant, stated, 'It's an eyesore and has been like that for quite a while. If they're not going to carry on with it, they can put something else there. It doesn't look great. It's ugly and has been like that long before Covid; well over six years.' She added that the building site becomes 'quite smelly' during summer months, possibly due to drainage issues, and noted that while it doesn't overlook her home, it affects others nearby.
Susan Warner, another resident, echoed these sentiments, saying, 'It's an ugly edifice, for a start. They've not done any work for ages. I understand they've run out of money, but it's an eyesore. It resembles a disused, multi-storey car park, and it originally was a car park. We have lost a car park and gained an ugly building, and we are in very short supply of car parks in Gillingham.'
Mixed Opinions on the Mosque's Potential
Despite the criticism, some residents see potential benefits. Ben Giffin, 37, son of resident Jane Liddiard, commented, 'I like the idea and I think it will bring a lot of culture and diversity into Gillingham. But it needs to be finished. We need to find the money to finish it. At the moment, it doesn't look good at all. It doesn't create a good impression of Gillingham for people passing by.'
However, his mother, Jane Liddiard, 61, a civil servant who has lived in the area for 12 years, expressed shock at the building's state, saying, 'I pass this eyesore of a building every morning and afternoon. I am so shocked that they have left it in this state. I just think it's a waste of money. It doesn't even look anything like a mosque. It could be anything - it's just a derelict building. If they haven't got the money to finish it, they should knock it down.'
Community Impact and Background
The planned super-mosque was designed to include a cafe and a community hall, amenities that have yet to materialise. Its construction was intended to alleviate pressure on nearby venues in the Medway Valley, where the Muslim population is growing and existing facilities are oversubscribed. Residents pointed out that there is another mosque in Gravesend, about 15 to 20 miles away, which many local Muslims currently use.
The ongoing stalemate has led to calls for action, with residents urging either completion of the project or repurposing of the space for community use. The Daily Mail has approached KMWA for comment, but as of now, the future of the £6 million super-mosque remains uncertain, leaving Gillingham residents to contend with what they describe as a blight on their town.
