Petition power ends Wolverhampton Islamic centre move
Controversial plans to turn a community hall in Wolverhampton into an Islamic learning centre have been scrapped after almost 1,500 people objected.
Residents had become convinced that the site was going to become a mosque, despite the city council insisting that this was never going to be the case.
Wolverhampton council has now withdrawn the plans to lease the building because of 'the potential impact on car parking and vehicle movements in the area'.
It had received a bid to turn Goldthorn Park Assembly Hall in Himley Crescent into an 'Islamic learning centre', after labelling the site as 'surplus to requirements'.
An unnamed Muslim group had applied for the lease.
But online petition was set up entitled 'Stop Goldthorn Park Assembly Hall, Himley Crescent, from being converted to a mosque' and called for the site to be turned into housing.
A total of 1,082 people signed the petition, including Labour Councillor Harbans Singh Bagri, who lives on the estate, who said he supported allowing it to be turned into homes.
As well as the online petition set up by resident Satpal Bahra, a paper petition by Bhajan Devsi has attracted more than 400 signatures and called for the site to become a day centre for older people.
In a letter written to Mr Devsi by David Cockfield, from the council's legal team, it was revealed the authority had 'decided not to proceed with the lease of the premises'.
The letter read: "Further to the receipt of your petition on July 29 2015, I would like to advise that having reviewed all of the key considerations and in particular the potential impact on car parking and vehicle movements in the area, it has been decided not to proceed with the lease of the premises.
"The council will be undertaking an urgent review of the site in order to ensure that any future use is one that generates no or minimal parking difficulties, as any on-street parking arising from the use of the facility would not be acceptable."
Mr Devsi, of Himley Crescent, said: "I am very pleased to note that the common sense has prevailed and it has been decided by Wolverhampton City Council not to proceed with the lease of the assembly hall.
"This is very good news for the residents of Goldthorn Park and Park Hall estate who were very upset and signed the petition.
"It is also very good news for the well-established excellent community cohesion of this area with people from different faiths living side by side.
"Under the circumstances I am more than happy to withdraw our petition."