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The Scout Association said it needs to build the single-storey building on the site, off Bury Lane, near Waltham Abbey, to give its members the opportunity to pray and learn about Islam.

Despite other faith buildings existing on the site, including a Synagogue and a Buddhist Sala, the application had faced opposition from the BNP and a number of local residents.

Speaking at the district council's planning committee, resident Mr Crosby said: "It begs the question who's next?'. Is it right for Hindus to have a temple? Sikhs? Urdus? There's five places there of worship. It just seems to fly in the way of Baden-Powell's spirit which was to share in cohesion not to separate. A better idea would be to share a place of worship."

Scout Association UK chief executive Derek Twine said: "One of the great advantages of different places of worship is that people of each faith can learn about each other."

He added: "We are seeking to complement the other places of worship in a way which is appropriate to the environment. We have a low impact building designed to fit in to its woodland setting."

Some councillors expressed concerns about building in the green belt.

Councillor John Wyatt said: "I do have some concerns because it's another building in the green belt and if we look at the other faith chapels and places of worship they were all built between 1947 and 1967 before our Green Belt plan was in existence."

But councillor Antony Watts said: "Gilwell Park is always going to be a very difficult site from a planning point of view. It attracts so many people there that quite clearly they need buildings to operate.

"You're looking at providing facilities for a worldwide organisation and therefore you have to look at the green belt policies in that context."

The application was approved by six votes to one.

10:11am Friday 22nd February 2008

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