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Shadwell residents call for action over noise
Angry residents in Shadwell are calling on council chiefs to take action against a community group they say is flouting licensing laws.
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People living near the Khoja Muslim Community Centre, in Shadwell, say they are constantly kept awake by activities that go on late into the night.
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They say functions, lectures and prayer meetings are often held until 3am, despite the centre only having a licence to open from 8am to 10pm
on Monday to Friday and from 10am to 8pm at weekends.
Residents claim meetings are often relayed through loud speakers to members gathered outside, making it unbearable for those living next door.
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They also say they are regularly faced with traffic chaos in surrounding streets when gatherings are held and face abuse and intimidation if they complain.
Resident Iain Farquharson has kept a log of disturbances and nuisance behavior at the centre.
But he says Leeds City Council has failed to take the issue seriously.
Neighbours now want the council to issue the centre with an enforcement notice making users stick to their licensed hours
Mr Farquharson, 46, said: "This has been a major problem for over four years now ever since the group relocated here.
"We feel there is just a complete lack of consideration for the people who have to live next door to the centre.
"Some nights it is impossible to sleep because of the noise and the banging that goes on well past the time they are supposed to be closed.
"I have kept a log of the number of times they have breached their licence and record the number plates of cars who regularly block the street.
"I've handed it over to the council but they just don't seem to want to know."
The Khoja community was given permission to open the centre after leaving their original base in Beeston. At that time residents signed a petition against the plan.
A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "The Khoja Muslim Centre was issued with a breach of condition notice in December 2008 after it was found to be opening outside of the hours agreed when planning permission was granted.
"Local residents claim this is happening again and we are looking into the allegations. If the notice is being breached we will consider all options available to us which includes prosecution through the courts."
The YEP tried on several occasions to contact the community centre but no one could be reached for comment.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 19 May 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
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