Lancaster prayer hall and student flat plans

Lancaster Islamic Society has applied to convert part of the ground floor of Telephone House, in Fenton Street, into a temporary prayer hall and classrooms.

The Society’s Masjid-e-Noor Mosque in Dallas Road is currently undergoing refurbishment and extension.

There are no plans to change the exterior of Telephone House during the temporary use of the building.

The plans will now be considered by Lancaster City Council.

Meanwhile, traffic police have questioned how a proposed Lancaster student flats development could be built without seriously affecting traffic flow in the city centre.

Morecambe based Ashby Properties has applied to build a four storey building with an office on the ground floor and student accommodation above, in China Street.

The plan has already proved controversial due to worries that it could affect the business of The Pub next door, which holds live music events every weekend.

Now Marc Proctor, from Lancashire Constabulary, has written to the council to say that he would not support proposals that would involve any closures of the two northbound lanes to facilitate the construction of this building.

He said: “If you do grant this application you may wish to include a condition regarding a Construction Traffic Management Plan with agreed times for deliveries to site in an effort to reduce the impact on the adjacent highway network.”