downsmail.co.uk


Mosque scheme delays overmajorgroundwork


THE completion date for amajor new mosque has been pushed back as builderswrestlewith the extensive groundworks. Soil testing andpiling have taken


longer than anticipated, Imam Dr Muhammad Usmani told Downs Mail. With the old mosque in Mote


Road, Maidstone, now levelled, the congregation is hiring a hall in ParkWood for Friday Prayers. “It is aworry that the 2,000Mus-


lims in Maidstone borough don’t have a permanent mosque at the moment,” said Dr Usmani. “I’ve not done anything like this before and the builders, who have, seem confident. It is such an important project that I’d rather they take their time and get it right.” When completed, the mosque


(or Masjid) will be able to accom- modate 800people inprayer at any one time. It will have three class- rooms or meeting rooms, three prayer halls, amulti-purpose hall,


library and two shops that will help theMasjid fund itselfwithout relying totally on donations. The scale of the groundworks


has been prompted by the scheme’s architects,who are creat- ing new basement facilities rather than building upwards, which they believewouldmake the com- plex too imposing on the neigh- bourhood. The centre’s frontage in MoteRoad, they say, has also been designedto be sympathetic in style to existing buildings in the area.


Dr Usmani and left, an artist’s impression of the newmosque


DrUsmani sayshe isdetermined


the facilities will serve as a com- munity aswell as an Islamic centre. “Itwill be amulti-purpose build-


ing to serve the whole commu- nity,” he said. “We will have a library, public meeting space and will make provision to feed the homeless.” Work was due to be finished by


April, but Dr Usmani now antici- pates completion of theMasjidwill be towards the end of next year.


News CQC’s praise


for care home A CARE home in Maidstone has been rated “good” following an unannounced inspection by the CareQuality Commission. The Pilgrims Way Care Home


offers residential care and nursing support for up to 76 elderly people in BowerMount Road. At the time of inspection one of


the operation’s two buildings was under refurbishment and only one was occupied,with 43 people. Peo- plewere protected fromthe risk of infection; staffwerehiredwithall the necessary checks; medicines were administered as prescribed by their doctor and the environment and equipmentwerewellmaintained. People’s care and nursing needs


were assessedprior tothemmoving inandcarewasprovidedbytrained nurses andcare staff. The reports said: “People were


treatedwith kindness and compas- sion. Staff understood the impor- tance of promoting and respecting people’s privacy and dignity. Peo- ple were supported to maintain their independence and to raise concerns or make suggestions about the service they received.”


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