Mosque bid faces extra hurdle

The scheme, for land at Hall Street, is being recommended for approval by planning officers despite a huge protest campaign.

But the Government’s Office of the West Midlands is almost certain to call the plan in for scrutiny because it goes against planning guidelines which earmark the land for industrial use.

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Plans for an £18 million mosque and community centre in Dudley which have brought more than 22,000 objections could face an extra hurdle even if they are approved at a crunch meeting tonight.The scheme, for land at Hall Street, is being recommended for approval by planning officers despite a huge protest campaign.

But the Government’s Office of the West Midlands is almost certain to call the plan in for scrutiny because it goes against planning guidelines which earmark the land for industrial use.

Protest petitions with 22,385 names and 944 letters of objection have been received in a campaign dubbed the biggest “in living memory” by council leader David Caunt.

The council has also received a 615-name petition and 54 letters in support of the proposals to build the £12million community centre and £6million mosque with 65ft minaret.

Nine councillors on the development control committee will decide whether to follow officers’ advice and recommend the outline application at 6pm in Dudley Council House.

Only 50 members of the public will be allowed to watch the debate on a first-come-first-served basis after council bosses ruled out calls to move the meeting to a bigger venue

An appeal for calm has been launched ahead of the meeting. Councillor Steve Waltho pleaded for even tempers to be shown.