Developers of Lincoln’s first purpose built mosque are close to reaching their final fundraising target.
The Islamic Association of Lincoln still need a further £200,000 to complete the project, but the group are proud of how much money the community has raised so far.
Tanweer Ahmed, Chairman of the Islamic Association of Lincoln, told the BBC that he is pleased with Lincoln’s efforts:
“The fundraising is going fantastically well I think, I’m very impressed and I’m very proud of the people of Lincoln and surrounding areas because they have donated so generously.
“Now we’ve raised over £1.25m so our target is probably less than £200,000 so we’re not too far from our target.”
The mosque, which will be opened in autumn, is estimated to need around £1.5m in total – a target that will be fully funded through individual donations from Lincoln and the surrounding areas.
The City of Lincoln Council approved the Islamic Association of Lincoln’s plans in November 2012.
The mosque will be built next to Lidl, in place of a former dairy factory, on the corner of Boultham Park Road and Dixon Street.
Plans for the new building include prayer facilities for men and women, teaching spaces for boys and girls, a library and a funeral preparation room.
The plans also include dedicated parking for 68 cars and cycle storage.
Previous plans for a mosque to be built in Lincoln were rejected by the City of Lincoln Council in November 2009, after residents complained that the plans would cause traffic problems.
Last year, around 100 people supported East Anglian Patriots’ anti-mosque protest in Lincoln, and about 50 people supported the Lincoln Against Racism and Fascism group’s anti-racism demonstration.
