The car park in Gillingham where a new mosque is planned

A mosque with a dome and minaret could soon be built next to Gillingham railway station.

The plans have been lodged by the Kent Muslim Welfare Association, whose headquarters are currently in Canterbury Street.

Members launched a huge fundraising drive to bankroll a striking new mosque on the site of the Croneens car park in Railway Street.

Medway now has more than 5,000 Muslims, 2% of the entire population, and the existing Canterbury Street centre can no longer handle the numbers.

The association approached Medway Council and came to a deal to use half of the pay-and-display car park.

Plans lodged with the council this week said: “The building will be iconic and will make a positive contribution to the location.”

One resident, Joaquim Rebello, is against the scheme.

He said: “Potentially large public numbers could exacerbate parking and noise issues on festival and religious dates on already stretched parking, given the already close proximity to the railway station and church and school.”

More on this story in Monday’s Medway Messenger.