This is an absolute Joke, why should we even bother to vote anymore when the council we vote for seem to have no power to follow through the wishes of the majority of the people. Why don’t we save the money Locally which is spent on the planning departments of local councils and let the Bristol inspectorate look at every planning permission request as this is the second appael to planning refusal I know of in the last few years which they have overturned. This way they might be at least be able to lower my Council Tax.

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As I understand it, the mosque will feature a community centre that will be available for use by the community. Does this include functions such as civil partnerships?

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I feel discuted & let by this country, we dont seem to have any rights any more on what is happening on our door step. I think we already have enough Mosques we dont need or want anothere one

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I CARN’T BELIVE THIS IS GOING AHEAD I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE SITE,IS THIS GOING TO COURSE ME PROBLEMS? YES IT WILL FOR A LOT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. I’VE EVEN HEARD PEOPLE SAYING THERE NOT GOING TO PAY THE COMUNITY TAX WHEN THE MOSQUE IS OPENED I MIGHT EVEN JOIN THEM.

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I’m glad Dudley council have seen sense. The site is currently an eyesore and needs redeveloping. As for those who think more shops should be built – aren’t there enough empty & second hand shops in Dudley all ready?

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Dudley and the people of surrounding towns will make sure this mosque will be not built

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Timothy, I have heard people say that before the last 2 elections. Yet still enough voted Labour to get them into power again.
Will any other party do things differently in this case?

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What a sad day for democracy in the Black Country. What right do a bunch of unelected suits in Bristol have to decide this? The 23,000 people who expressed their disapproval at this plan have obviously been ignored.

This ridiculous decision will mean that far right groups will probably target the area come the elections. Why should the minority be pandered to yet again? I suspect it is to do with Labour trying to get the ethnic vote as the government are in dire straits.

Dudley Town Centre badly needs investment in order to attract business which would create jobs; surely the site would be more beneficial to everyone if this was the case, particularly in an economic downturn.

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yet again the voices of dudley are being ignored! its an absulote disgrace. its got nothing to do with racism or discrimination or anything else these do-gooders throw at us.

we just don’t want one of europes because mosque being built here, end of. People who are saying it an eyesore are talking rubbish because even when the mosque is built there will be dirty old factories behind it its an indutrial estate what do you expect? do you want a glamorous indurtial units?

If this mosque is buitl then it would be the end of dudley heritage, the heart of the black country. surely we want to keep dudley born and bred folk in dudley and not drive them away. If this is built in 10 years time there won’t be such thing has dudley, we wnat investment to make dudley into a nice town it once was. he lots of history in this town good history at that, it would be ashame to build a mosque here. the old tracitional black country would be lost.

I for one will be moving away if this is built.

too many do-gooders in this country, we say no we don’t want this built they say we are racist. I wouldn’t wnat a church there, enough churches already and dudley already has a mosque for the people of dudley.

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This mosque wouldn’t be the biggest in Europe, or even the biggest in the West Midlands. The idea that this will somehow destroy Dudley is nonsense – is black country heritage that weak that a new building would demolish it?

Mt experience of Dudley is that it is the people, of every faith and none, who make it a special place, and I don’t believe any building could change that. Redeveloping a site which has been wasteland and untouched for years can only bring benefit to the area.

The idea that this is a pandering to a minority, flies in the face of the massive difficulties this project has had precisely because the mosque will serve a minority group. There are a number of new churches holding many hundreds of people in the area, and yet very little was made of those.

The decision was made on planning grounds, and while I’m sure that many of the objections made were made on legitimate grounds, many of the petitions (available to view at the Planning dept)are either based on inaccurate information or bear no relation to planning, but rather a dislike of Muslims or Islam, and wouldn’t not be considered.

For those so worked up about this, why are you so threatened by a building?

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Does no one listen to the people of Dudley? 30,000 said they didnt want Barratts building on the speedway track and it still happened. Now 23,000 have said they dont want a Mosque and we are going to get one.

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No, No and NO to all rubbish such as this. We don’t need mosques, churches, temples or any othe wasteof money. We need jobs and a place for kids to play safely.

Each and every one of us need to fight this ridiculous plan to the very end – otherwise you will have to look into your kid’s eyes and tell them you gave up and allowed the mosque to be built.

Keep up the fight whatever the religion. We don’t need it.

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Sign of the times under our “Non Democratic” New Labour Government I’m afraid !!

“If” this goes ahead Dudley Town will become a ghost Town and the death of the Heart of the Blackcountry.

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Utter disgrace not the fact that the proposal is a mosque no the fact that a 23k strong petition was signed and and totall ignored I presume that most of the 23k where actual Dudley “people”. What sort of message does that give out, to me its says “Stuff you Dudley”.

This country is virtualy on its knees its needs sustainable jobs, sustainable housing not mosque’s just to try to prove Dudley is the hieght of multi-culturalism!!!!!!

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All credit to Mr Caunt for letting Blears know that her “Communities in Control” is now treated as a joke for obvious reasons. Here we have an ELECTED spokesman of the people eing overruled by an APPOINTED head of some meaningless quango. How has this been allowed to happen?

Wikipedia quote:

“Democracy is a system of government by which political sovereignty is retained by the people and exercised directly by citizens.”

Not content with giving our sovereignty away to the EU, our proven traitors Blair, Brown and all their incompetent ilk are now denying us a say in local politics.

If we lose this fight we may as well take down all the war memorials dedicated to our brave young service personnel who sacrificed their own lives in two wars in order for us to live in a free and democratic society.

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What a waste of peoples valuable time 23000 signatures worth nothing. Its seems that the voice of Dudley people is not heard and the opposition has won yet again. We need more community places for the young people to go to not a mosque. The council should be looking at providing young people somewhere to go which will help keep them out of trouble.

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i usually only post on the football articles but this was an opportunity i couldnt refuse, a mosque for 18million!!! its an utter discrace, i respect all religious beliefs but this takes the michael!!! religion is a total farce and some day we’ll find out that there is no god and we have wasted our lives preaching to no one! good old england rolling over and saying pull me trousers down and penetrate, and by god (irony) they have!!!
before anyone asks im not a racist, ALL religion is trife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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How is it that a Government Inspector from BRISTOL can over rule 23000 Dudley people regarding an issue that is only relevant to Dudley? This is the death of democracy.

Our Local Authority should be working hard to attract new investment/s that lead to employment opportunities and regeneration within our borough.

Brown land should have never been sold for the purposes of a faith centre, regardless of which faith.

As is the trend of late, the working class are being made a mockery of by a so called LABOUR Government.

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I think it will be a great addition to the town and welcome the new multi-faith Britain.

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absoulutley disgusting not a thought for the 23.000 people who petitioned against this monstrosoty , Dudley people have no say as to there town,

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An excellent decision from the man from Bristol.
Mnay thanks!

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oh dear, it was only a matter of time before the mosque got the go ahead,it seems no one wants to listen to 23,000 voices i am gutted for all you people in dudley,i lived there for 40 years until i emigrated to australia 3 years ago.

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23,000 signatures? I amazed they could find that many who could write!

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What a disgrace!!!

The voice of Dudley has been ignored by some faceless beaurocrat in Bristol of all places.
It’s about time that the Council and the Government woke up to the fact that the people of Dudley want a Dudley that reflects the culture of the Black Country. And when I say Black country I don’t mean the culture of the Black population. And when they say that the Mosque will create jobs for non muslims who are they trying to fool!
I personally am still smarting from the comments made by Kurshid Ahamed in your columns saying that if the people of Dudley did not like the idea of the Mosque being built, they could find somewhere else to live!
Lets start another petition to physically stop the Mosque being Built.

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What the hell is going on??? Think of the people that need jobs and need a house and all this money is going on a Mosque???? All this will cause is more anger and hatered in Dudley!!! There will be alot more trouble and alot more problems for the council and police in the long run!!!!
DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!

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Dudley Council stated they would spend £100, 000 to defend there decision on the mosque. We the Tax payer have been lumbered with bill because we lost.

what is now the true cost for:

- 2 barristers,
- 2 – 3 planning officers
- A four day hearing
- four days worth of private security
- four days worth of police presence
- Costs for the planning inspector (accommodation, food, travel etc).

should we now draw a line under this situation, before we the tax payer end up paying for it further?

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The man from Bristol, he say yeah! 23,000 people and a council must be clueless. “Communities in Control” is a joke Mr Caunt, fight it all the way to save OUR heritage.

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Together with several other men and women I attended the appeal enquiry every day. There were several muslin men but no women. They want us to intergrate with them in their community centres -they do not intergrate with each other. Appeal allowed on the say so of someone from Bristol. Democracy in England -Piffle.

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While I can think of more suitable uses for the site, my suspicion is that the council is quite happy for the row about the mosque to rumble on to distract attention from its appalling Black Country strategy, which prohibits any serious retail expansion in Dudley to protect the ghastly Merry Hill centre. This plan will permanently reduce Dudley to the role of a second-class centre, ranking it behind even West Bromwich in the retail heirarchy, and prevent any serious retail recovery. This will do far more to destroy our Black Country heritage than any mosque.

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Well if there’s 90% that say No then this should be heard, and the 22,000 original NO’s. The Labour Party are to blame for this as they sold the land in the first place, and secondly the Tories bypassed the chance to finish it by dithering, so in my book there’re both to blame and it’s the people yet again who have to suffer for their bad behaviour. Now we can make our voice heard by not voting for either in local or general elections. This town is an historical town and shouldn’t be undermined by someone in Bristol, what do they know about our history? So remember fellow Dudley citizens you can and should get your own back come election time.

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I can’t express my disappointment at this decision. Dudley was once a glorious Medieval town, it could so easily have been restored to it’s former glory, however, all is now lost!
My family has spent many years restoring an old listed building, abiding by all the regulations to maintain the character of the house – and what for? When something so out of character can be built despite so much public opposition, I’m truly gutted.
Perhaps, as I have, if 22,999 people make a comment to your newspaper they won’t be able to deny the numbers in the petition are actually true!

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Has anybody informed the Daily Mail?

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And yes, Steve caballero, the people who signed the petition can write and quite eloquently – what about you?

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Absolute disgrace. 18 million being spent on a mosque, thats not needed and obviously not wanted by the local community? I’d say a state of the art community centre including lots of exciting schemes and oppotunities for youths of the town would be far mor beneficial? Theres already a mosque and plenty more in the surrounding area, What is there for local youths to do? Absolutly nothing! – hence why there is so much anti social behaviour going on, which the government is supposed to be tackling!! Obviously government don’t care about real issues but they will back the supposed minority 100%. I feel perhaps we would be better heard if we were to move to a foreign country and become an immigrant! Maybe we would have more rights and be listened to elsewhere!!

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massive centre yes we need it for the whole of Dudley of all faiths this is what i would like it to serve [ THE OLD, YOUNG, MIDDLE AGE, MALE AND FEMALE, AND MOST OF ALL THE DISABLED AND THE MENTALLY ILL] [DONT FORGET ITS OUR ELDERLY WHAT KEPT DUDLEY GOING ALL THESE YEARS] so all you lot sitting nicely in good paid jobs and couldn’t give a dam go and build the mosque at Bristol preferablly next door to you all

plaese answer this where does Bristol come into making decisions for dudley

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The voice of dudley asgainst this mosque has been a waste of time. All he poeple i know do not want this in dudley. We all must fight asgainst this decision till the end and even if the thing is built.

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Re-47, well said Danny.

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all my life ive been proud to say im from the dudley area and since a child ive looked at dudley and the beautiful castle and all its history and now ive got the nightmare of having to look at some mosque, im absolutely sick of this country , were terrified to say no in case they call us rascists , so much for all the men and women laying down their lives for democracy in years gone by they must be turning in their graves , i suppose thats next no burials just cremations on towpaths next to canals and rivers as we havnt the ganges thank god . i hope this isnt the end of the fight and that protests etc are planned and if anybody knows of addresses i can write to pls tell me and others as this has pushed me over the edge now enoughs enough

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For those who say 18 million — waste of money and we need jobs not Mosques — 6 million is the cost of the Mosque — and 12 million the cost of the training and community centre (which will be open to all).

Not a penny is tax payers or any form of public money is for the Mosque — all raised entirely by the Muslim Community themselves.

Yes the funds for the building is all raised from within the hard working Muslim community — who have kept this area in which I’m proud to live alive and avoiding total dereliction — which Dudley C’llers have been happy to allow for over 20 years.

Since Good Year closed down 20 yrs ago they have left this land and the area to become a rat infested dump.

In Wolverhampton — when their Good Year closed down last year — they’ve already got on with regenerating the site.

Thank God for the hard working, peaceful, steadfast local Muslim community of Kates Hill and Dixons Green for preventing the area from complete decline and blight. No thanks at all to Dudley Council — in particular Mr Caunt.

And 120 jobs long term will be created by the Mosque and community centre.

What plans have Dudley Council got for this area in terms of business’s and jobs if they manage to block this essential community development?

This long failure to do anything productive with the area — and lack of alternative plans — was most likely the reason, for their irrational ignoring of their own expert planning officers advice, being overturned.

How many of the 23,000 petition signers live around the area of the proposed Mosque and trsining / community centre?

The opposition is irrational and filled with unreasoned prejudice by many who won’t be at all affected one way or the other.

Congratulations to Khurshed Ahmed and his fantastic Muslim Community of Kates Hill and Dixons Green. This side of the town is now on the up after years of purposeful Council inspired decline.

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Another victory for the Scots Government trying to destroy England and the English culture.
Vote them out or we will be destroyed as a nation !!!

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this decision by a bristol what can i call him idiot shows the contempt dudley people are held in we do not want this temple on our skyline twenty two thousand people have said so think again dudley council

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Do we still live in a democracy or a dictatorship because i really don’t know anymore ??????? Why is it the minority always seem to get their own way when the majority do not ???????? It is about time the british public stood up for their rights, that means the hard working tax paying people who lets face it these days come back of the queue for everything. This is just another example of what GREAT britain has become, a nanny state. The older generation now are the only ones who know or care about what was once a GREAT country. Ta.

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no way this moque should be built we got to stick together and make sure it aint built

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What about the call to prayer from Bang and Olson speakers perched on a 65 foot tower 5 times a day? I dont want to hear it, I dont want it interupting my day.

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Dudley needs another mosque like i need a hole in the head. Gordon Brown said ; i will listen; will he ever start. sounds like George Orwells Animal Farm, every body is equal.

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So democracy doesn’t work. 22,000 against and a planning inspector from miles away can decide he knows what’s best for us. I hope he is remembered when the BNP starts winning council seats in Dudley as the people start voting for their vile party in protest. They must be pleased of the focal point you have created for them Mr Planning Officer.
The problem isn’t the mosque, the problem is the fact that majority DON’T WANT IT and no matter how much liberal hand wringing goes on that WILL NOT change.
Oh and calling it a recreation centre does that help? How many half empty leisure centres does one borough need?
In the final analysis wouldn’t it have been easy, green and cheaper just to knock all the old buildings down and make a park? Then, maybe, use the money for something radical, like the people of Dudley!

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What has Dudley become i have lived here all my life the time has come to move away why are people scared to so NO i wonder.

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They will be calling it the PRIDE OF DUDLEY next.JUST SAY NO.

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it is a disgrace, ignoring the views of the local people who no longer have any say in the way their
community or even their country come to that is run, no wonder English people are leaving this country in thousands.

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Whether or not this mosque is built, or if it is for the good of the community is yet to be discovered.

23000 petitions against the mosque, i question your motives. If Dudley meant so much to you in the first place you should; as a so called ‘community’ got off your rear ends and done something about it in the first place. You make Dudley a place that can be classed as home.

I could write a whole essay on this but i shall not. I pray for the people of Dudley of all faiths and beliefs that you see common sense.

My personal view is, £18million is a lot of money, imagine how many starving millions that would feed. Another mosque? or millions of people fed and clothed? i leave that decision to your consciences.

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92% of the people of Dudley don’t want the Mosque, if it is ever built it will be built with grants paid for by the people who don’t want it.The Labour party since the 1960s hads been sytomaticly dismantleing England, and the Mosque is part of the prosess

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Why does this spineless government seem to bend over backwards to anything to do with the muslim community when there are hospital wards being closed down through lack of funding and decide to spend millions of pounds on a mosque, dudley needs ANOTHER mosque like it needs a hole in the head.

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I believe this decision from the planning inspectorate in Bristol, will be disasterous for racial harmony and tolerance here in Dudley.
I am old enough to remember the race riots in Dudley way back in 1962. It was a frightening and very tense time, and I would certainly never wish to see the likes of it again, but I fear that some right wing elements will find this a perfect excuse to cause trouble!!!!!!!!

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Oh B71.BAGGIES get back to your Daily Mail. I asked a question, that’s all. You don’t know my view on the matter so don’t judge. For what it’s worth, I oppose the mosque. Am I still a do-gooding prat? I am terribly sorry that it is because of ‘people like me’ that there is nothing for kids to do in Dudley. Really, I am. When I was a kid, we used to create our own entertainment. It didn’t involve shopping or paint balling or any other nod to consumerism, but it did involve being creative, imaginative and thinking for ourselves. Something this current generation seems unable to do. Still, if it makes you feel better, carry on blaming me or the mosque for the brain-dead youth of Dudley.

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Well, I am so sorry and indeed saddened for the people of Dudley and its a sad day indeed for democracy. I am proud to be a blackcountry lad, we left England for Oz three years ago primarily for these kind of reasons. I have followed with interest the whole mosque debacle and felt elated at the refusal for the mosque.However, imagine my disappointment, when as predicted, the minority reared its head and pointed the race card, and anti-mosque islamaphobia rubbish in order to help overturn democracy in order to get what they want. The blackcountry people voted and the refusal to build mosque must stand!!! in fact the only thing that must stand is the principle of democracy not the mosque. Race, religion has nothing to do with it ( unless of course you want to overturn something) democracy has again failed to protect the opinion of the voting public and as predicted the mosque is being built. My deepest condolances to all those who have lost the right to exercise a democratic decision. Dudley will have lost its identity, heritage and culture to this landmark decision, a benchmark for a all minorities on “how to get what you want”. it is the beginng of the end. Last person out shut the door and switch off the lights!!!

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The decision to build the mosque is a mockery of democracy!!

Building this mosque will affect the regions tourism. More importantly the land it is proposed to be built on can be redeveloped and used by business developers. This will enhance the local economy and bring JOBS. Building a mosque does nothing, there are other suitable sites for a mosque and one of this size is surplus to requirements.

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And the takeover continues.

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89 probably because its next door to sandwell

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ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

i told u all to mark my words that no matter what all u race haters said that this Mosque WOULD get the go ahead……happy as happy can be!!!!

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Mosque,Church Temple,Synagogue etc.
FFS, its a place for worship. Get a life!

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What can i say…. u all keep barking on about all these signatures you have and over 90% of Dudley opposes this but have you stopped to think how many people wanted this to go ahead ??? could all you opposers raise 18 million pounds no i dont think so of course because most of you are all on the dole!!! the money for this mosque doesnt come out of your dole or the minority of tax payers in dudley but it was raised on donations by a majority of hard working tax payers who pay your dole every week to look after your kids that dont have anything to do but grow up and be on the dole like yourselves!!!! what happened to you looking after your own kids and entertaining them yourselves oh no cant do that gotta go clubbing the weekend and rather get drunk!!! come on folkes if u all got off ur backsides and worked for a living and actually put something into dudley maybe the government might have listened to you but obviously that could never happen because the majority of dudley residents rely on handouts and council houses, my opinion you dole dosers get it to easy everything handed on a plate now theyve said no you have all spat your dummies out!! get over it and start giving something back into your precious town!!! as they say action speaks louder than words….oh yeh im not muslim and i live in dudley very close to the site and donated some money i worked for into this building!!!! Dudley folk will never change take take take no givers!!!! have a nice day xx

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No suprise with this decision the people of DUDLAYYYYY are known all over the country for being a bit dense.

In this case many of the halfwits who opposed the mosque decided to make stupid arguments from which it is clear they do not know the planning laws of the land.

Instead they rely on openly expressing their hatred towards muslims and islam how futile. Basically the opponents make a lot of noise but have NO SUBSTANCE!!

Carry on telling yourselves how you will fight on because it will only be to the delight of the Muslims they know you do not have a clue!!

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126, Have you ever been to Malaysia or Brunei?
Both are muslims state. You would be impressed how racial harmony works hand in hand.
And oh! They have loads of Churches and just about any other ethnic races there.No worries,see for yourself.

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I CAN’T EXPRESS HOW UPSET AND ANGRY I FEEL AT THIS DECISION, BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE GREAT) HAS TRULY GONE TO THE DOGS. WE ARE TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY AND THIS DECISON HAS ONLY EMPHASIZED THIS POINT.
EVERY DAY WE AS DUDLEY PEOPLE WILL HAVE A NEW VIEW TO OUR HORIZON, WHICH WILL BE A 65FT PARAPET, IS THIS WHAT WE REALLY WANT.
WE ARE A MEDIEVEL TOWN WITH A LONG HISTORY AND IN MY OPINION THIS WILL CHANGE THE VIEW AND OUTLOOK OF THE TOWN FOREVER.
WE AS DUDLEY PEOPLE MUST STICK TOGETHER AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, WE HAVE BEEN DOWNTRODDEN FOR TOO LONG, ONLY WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR US, WE MUST NEVER GIVE UP.
INSTEAD OF TALKING WE MUST BE DOING AND MAKE SURE WE ARE HEARD.

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The extension on the deadline decision will be probley be made by the idot from Bristol. So then he can wipe his hands with the matter…

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DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER PETITION
WE NEED SOMETHING POSITIVE TO WORK ON

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keep fighting .

make this issue HEADLINE NEWS all over Britain.

give your pathetic anti-british goverment a real HEADACHE.

be awkward, be a nuisance,be vocal it CAN work.

ask the people of sydney

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Some plain facts to counter much of the hysterical rhetoric above:

1. There is no evidence that 90-95% of Dudley people oppose the Mosque and community centre. Where has this figure come from?

2.It is not true that a consensus has voted against the project. There has been no vote and there is no consensus.

3. “The majority have voted against this project”. The fact is that 22,000 petitioners against the project are in themselves in a minority — this figure does not represent a majority of the population of Dudley — and certainly not of the area of Kates Hill and Dixons Green.

4. “Most people in the area are against this project” The majority population in the area of the project are Muslim — so it is most likely that the majority in the area are in favour of the development

5. “The land should be used for business and jobs”. Fair enough — but DMBC has had over 20 years to create business activity on this land. Where are their current plans to do so and who are the businesses striving to start up on this site?

6. “Democracy overruled”. Comments such as democracy overuled are not quite correct. This country is not ruled by petitions and referenda. We have democratically elected governments — and previous elected governments have created the planning laws as part of the democratice system of making just laws, which includes laws to ensure minority interests are fairly served.

The law has been applied according to the rules — so democracy has prevailed.

A subtle aspect of our democracy is that it is not just about majority voting rights — it is also about rights to ensure freedom of worship, and freedom of minorities to have their views heard and for them not too be oppressed by the majority. In this respect the true democraacy that we are so proud of in Britain has prevailed.

7. “British values and heritage ignored”. The Muslim community of Kates Hill and Dixons Green are largely 2nd generation British — so this is not a question of a British population being overruled by a minority group of non-citizens. The British community of the area are largely Muslim — so this is a case of British citizens expressing their right to having a place of worship. Like the people of St Johns Church, Kates Hill, who are fighting the Church Commissioners decision to demolish their lovely church.

Just a few sensible facts.

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Great Britain R.I.P

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As I stated yesterday I just feel it is absolutely the correct decision to build this mosque in Dudley so that the increasing numbers of Muslim people in the west midlands have decent facilities.
I think it is absolutely wonderful and an endorsement to the good people of Dudley who are happy for the area to be known nationwide for the mosque.It is absolutely right that such facilities should stay in the west Midlands forever and not down south.- keep up the good work

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brendan…..words of wisdom i agree if all these opposers are so concerned why havent they put their hands in their pockets and come up with an idea to build something and create jobs for their fellow dudley people…. eaxactly…. you couldnt be bothered for over 20 years so why are you bothered now…. all of a sudden its a problem!!!! what a laugh!!! as for the comment from Helena your so funny i put my money on your a voter for the BNP!!! im not racist love just hate the fact that a lot of these protesters are and my reason for these thoughts are there is not one good reason that has been made valid from yourselves why the mosque should NOT go ahead!! If there was the decision would not have been made so easily and quickly, every issue raised by the protestors had no strength or depth just personal opinions!! isnt it a shame how everyone keeps moaning about british this british that and yet most british folk have turned a blind eye to this derelict site for over 20 years oh sorry you probably wanted more council houses or flats that you can claim benefits off eh!!!

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I just read that DMA has stated it wants more time to build the mosque i hope dudley council make the MSA stand by its original agreement
and take the land back .

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So much for democrocy, I was one who protested originally, did I completely wase my time???
I do hope not, and I hope the fight goes on.
I am not a racist but I really do think that my community tax could be better spent than supporting the building of this mosque.

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thank you malcolm davies and all your rent a mob of 23,000(incidently were all the names on petition residents of dudley?)all your comments about islam being the biggest threat to this country(there’s me thinking it was rising rates /credit crunch/inflation etc)and such gems as the offensive word such as”p**i being the common short way of saying pakistani” did nothing but create negative publicity for the no campaign, along with all the other narrow minded rubbish”dudley is a medieval town,” (whats so medieval bout the town?forgive me i didnt realise they had sex shops , lap dancing bars, pound shops, fast food outlets and churches padlocked in medieval times, if anything probably the mosque would fit in more in the medieval era its gothic archways are similiar to a churches, the money was to come from the muslim community ( and as a dudley muslim taxpayer of 20 years i would rather my money be spent on projects like this, wether they are mosques/curches or temples than pay for some work shy multi generational families booze, fags and dole money)the mosque is to replace the old site on castle hill, a small percentage of muslims carry out sickening acts and we are all tarred with the same brush but a bigger percentage have served in the world wars under the british army,ran corner shops/restaraunts/drove drunks home safely in taxis thru all unsociable hours,operated on the sick in hospitals,over the last few years i read one comment that had some logic to it , a gentlemen living near the site wrote concerns about the traffic levels in the evening during the month of ramadhan, most of the local politicians (as usual fair -weathered)jumped on the no wagon to serve themselves as did mr.davies(wasnt he on the committee who sold the land?)a good portion of the blame as to why the mosque is going ahead lies with the mob of 23,000 for not putting up a decent enough arguement ,looking at pics of malcolm davies and co celebrating the council’s no decision a few months ago i’m reminded of a saying taught to me by my history teacher regarding an ill fated war campaign of years ago “they may be ringing bells(when sending off the soon to be decimated ships)but soon they shall be wringing their hands”

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How come the government manage to find £18 million to build a new mosque, but cant help local parish’s to fix a roof or help with the up keep of traditional english ways of life. I am not a regular church goer, as im sure many of the other people who have commented on here, but i do know that a ‘village’ parish and ‘town’ churches are a dying breed and mosques seem to be ‘popping’ up on a lot of old church sites, which makes me wonder where the money comes from and why does it seem to favour one over the other?

The only thing i can see the Dudley mosque doing is seperating the people who live there even more.

And ZDK – All you go on about is people on benefits. Are you a benefit claimer yourself??? Benefits are there to help people who need it, and yes sadly people abuse it. I do work full time and privatly rent – just before you ask.

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First comments blocked. So i say again lets do our best to hold up the building work. Not wanted Not welcome

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Lets get it built- exactly what Dudley needs to brighten up the place- in fact be nice to see a few more built in th west midlands

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I feel sorry for the people of Dudley we had the same thing in Tividale Oldbury our wishes were ignored and a Temple built which is an eyesore and with the resulting increased traffic problems it has become a nightmare for residents. Perhaps it is about time the english people started standing up for what they believe in and not let some idiot in Wales decide their fate. I think this mosque will look totally out of place in a medieval town like Dudley and do we really need a 65ft monstrosity dominating the town I think not.

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Dudley has been my hometown for over 60 years, and I feel the character of the town will be lost with the building of the mosque. Additional traffic to the area will be a nightmare,let the decision makers live near it, and let Dudley residents make decisions for Dudley town.

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The day the first stone is laid will be the day that I sell both my house and business premesise and relocate my family and my business outside Dudley.

Not because (before the hand wringers point the finger) I am a racist or religionist, but because I point blank refuse to pay a single penny more into a locl authority that can not and will not respect the wishes of the majority of it’s constituents. “Democracy” is a joke word in todays Britain.

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2 Facts

NO Public money- (council tax) is to be used on the new mosque and community centre. It is being funded by the Muslim Community. So taxpayers of Dudley there is no need to fret.

Secondly this is a replacement Mosque to the one that already exists. This is not going to take Dudley over as someone put it, nor does it threaten anyone – it is a building.

Muslims are already a part of Dudley and the Black Country and have been for sometime. In fact the Black Country was created by migrants coming here for work and if anyone from the area traces their family tree will find Scots, the Welsh and the Irish coming here to find work.

And as for Dudley being a Medieval Town – well it has not been one of those since Medieval times. Dudley Town centre is not lit up by candles. The horse and cart has not replaced cars and buses?

Unfortunately there are some with Medieval thinking. I for one look forward to using a new community centre in Dudley.

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Surely inspectors from Bristol cannot over rule
the local council & 90% of the community’who are
against this mosque being built.
We should all make an effort somehow,& reverse
these unknown inspectors decision.

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THIS IS WHAT A PATHETIC COUNTRY BRITAIN IS. THEY DO VOTES THE VOTES ARE COUNTED MORE THAN THE MAJORITY SAY NO TO THE MOQUE BEING BUILT BUT THEYRE STILL SYAING IT’S GOING TO BE BUILT. WHY? THE COUNCIL NEED TO GROW A BACK BONE AND DONT BUILD THIS. WE NEED SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY AND ECONIMIC IN THE STATE WER EIN SO BUILD SOMETHING MORE SUITABLE FOR THE PEOPLE AND AREA.

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Do what i did years ago and relocate.It’s not at all hard to find somewhere better than Dudley.I was born and brought up there,but it really depresses me to go back and see Family and friends.What a dump.

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As a person that has been involved in regeneration work in the Black Country for twenty years, I was suprised that the Planning Inspector concluded that there was sufficient development sites in Dudley available for business use. I know this not to be the case. Land for business use in Dudley has been in short supply for many years, especially high prfile sites like this, and is being further squeezed by house building. I was also saddened to read that the mosque could adversely affect the planned wider investment and development of Dudley town, which is sorely needed. Why is Mr Hussain planning a capacity of 600 people when he does not “expect that many people at the same time”, as reported in Saturday’s (19/7) Express & Star?

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One of the main reasons I emigrated to Australia was to rid myself of this rubbish. I suppose you still have people dying in hospital corridors? No priority, no brains, no hope!!
I know what my local council would have said….and done!!

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I’m sitting in my office absolutely flabergasted, This country has gone down the pan, my blood is boiling. The problem is that no matter how much the population shouts nobody will listen especially our pathetic government. Increases in Fuel bills, Council tax, food, road tax and things like this mosque being given the green light is tipping most people over the edge. Absolutely shocking..and just to think, Most of my family and friends give me grief because i don’t vote, Is there any wonder when there are no worthy candidates. Tut Tut

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I think it’s a beautiful and peaceful building and anything that will promote peace and love for one and other is fantastic. What we need to realise is that ANY religion is an attempt to make things better, to look after each other etc etc theyre all based on the same foundation, its just the idiots who create stereotypes, every religion has them too! Rather this than a prison, and its a great deal more attractive than Merry Hill!!!

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It is an absolute disgrace that a demacraticaly elected council can be overruled by a panel of none elected outsiders.I understand 600 people
will use the facilities,23000 people signed a petition against the Mosque”It should not be allowed to happen”.Dudley council should seek every means possible to fight this, they owe it to the 23000 voters that they agreed with.

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What’s wrong with having a mosque in Dudley, it will go well with the pink elephant in West bromwich, as for the Dudley castle, it has passed it’s sell by date, just like the people of Dudley.

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180. The only thing that has passed it’s sell by date is your brain!!

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