A HEATED meeting between Worldham parish councillors, more than 30 local residents and representatives from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association took place last week. Residents have been worried following of reports that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association's convention may be held in Worldham next July. The meeting, which ran for an hour and half, was organised to ease concerns of local people and seemed to allay fears of all but a few villagers. Oaklands Farm, on Green Street, has been bought by the association and the meeting was an opportunity for residents to question directly Ahmadiyya representatives about the effect their convention will have on the village. Most residents' questions and concerns centred around traffic increases on the B3004 and that the single convention held at the end of July would be "the thin end of the wedge". Others were concerned about the number of people likely to come to the village. Following the meeting Worldham Parish Council chairman Stephen Dolley said: "I have had a number of phone calls from people saying that their minds been put very much at rest. My job is to represent the views of the village." Vice-president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Akram Ahmedi, spoke at the meeting and fielded questions and concerns. He reassured residents that despite mixed messages, the numbers attending the convention are likely to be between 20,000 and 23,000 people. Some residents were concerned more than 40,000 people would be attending. Mr Ahmedi said: "In the order of 20,000 to 23,000 people will attend over three days and it is not going to be extended into two or three weeks. It is three days, no more no less." He stressed that visitors arrive at the convention in waves so there will not be a sudden rush of people and added that the only real rush comes at the end of the event. The convention is even set up over a period of two weeks to cause minimum disruption. "Until the Thursday evening, I assure you that you will not notice it. We try to make sure that our neighbours are not disturbed," he said. Sergeant Karen McManus, from Aldershot Police, spoke at the meeting of her experience policing the event at Rushmoor last year. She said: "It's a family event and there are five of six people per car. "There was less traffic congestion than there was for the air show and that's something that happens every year. "There will be extra cars on the road but it will be managed as well as it can be." She said the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association even provide volunteers who, supported by local police, helped manage the traffic. "They controlled the traffic very well. They were volunteers and I have never seen volunteers act so professionally," she added. Mr Ahmedi said the reason for choosing East Worldham was because they wanted a "harmoniousness and family environment". He added that the purpose of the convention was "bringing back together the community spiritual teaching. Mostly lectures that are given by prominent members of the community.' When one resident asked why such a big event could not be held at the Birmingham NEC. Munir Dean, in charge of PR for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said: "Glastonbury would not be Glastonbury if you had it at a convention centre." Selborne Parish Council discussed the convention prior to Wednesday's meeting and chairman, Peter Chapman, said: "I think the thing to accept is that this is going to happen. "They have a very good track record in running these events, which are very successful. "The council welcomes the opportunity to work with the Ahmadiyya Muslims Association to have a successful convention which minimises the inconvenience with the local community." All but a few local residents left the meeting feeling reassured. Friends of East Worldham (FEW) are a group which has recently formed and are dissatisfied with the parish council's approach to the convention. At the meeting, one of the founding members of the FEW Peter Goodrham said: "I would like to take to opportunity to welcome the Muslim Association in this village but in relatively small numbers. "I am disappointed with the stance taken by the parish council. "We believe that the developments of Oaklands Farm are not in the best interests of local residents and so we wish to minimise them. "We would very much encourage the council to adopt this objective." Mr Goodrham, in charge of publishing the FEW's first newsletter, was supported by fellow FEW member Colin Jenkins. The two men could not comment, at the meeting, on how many other members there were in the new organisation because of the absence of a members' list. The November edition of the FEW newsletter centres solely around their dissatisfaction of the Muslim convention being held in Worldham.
