Walsall Muslim school facing action on unlawful expansion

A girls school set up in terraced houses and mobile classrooms in back gardens in Walsall was today facing action after expanding without planning permission.

The Abu Bakr muslim school and mosque has been based in Wednesbury Road, Palfrey, for almost 10 years.

It has permission to operate a mosque and school from a row of terraced houses and four mobile units. But the number of mobile units has grown to about 10 without authorisation. The extra units were discovered during a site visit by councillors.

The councillors were considering a planning application to expand the mosque, which was refused.

Now the Abu Bakr Trust is now facing possible enforcement action. The mosque occupies seven of 15 houses owned by the trust.

Councillor Garry Perry, chairman of Walsall Council's development control committee, said: "We were made aware of unauthorised use of the site, and we are working with the trust to regularise that and look for a future application.

"We do need to contain it and make sure it is done with proper authority."

Consent was granted in 2002 for four mobile units on the site.

Some neighbours have complained about an increase in traffic outside the site and claim that the site is a fire risk. But other neighbours have voiced support for the school, which caters for more than 100 girls.

A report to go before Walsall Council's planning committee tonight states: "Officers have met with agents for the trust. They recognise the present school uses are unlawful and that a number of unlawful mobile buildings have been erected for use by the school.

"They have indicated their intention to make two planning applications — one for the change of use and one for the unauthorised mobile buildings on site."

Head of planning David Elsworthy said: "It is important for the committee not to unnecessarily pre-empt or prejudge a decision. It is open to the committee to conclude that enforcement action should be taken immediately.

"However, the possibility exists that one or other of the applications could be approved, potentially avoiding the need for enforcement action."

The Abu Bakr Trust was today unavailable for comment.