Mosque scheme is rejected by council

Controversial plans to build a new mosque in Walsall have been thrown out by planning bosses.

Scores of protesters packed into Walsall Council House to see the proposals for the former Hertz-Rent-A-Car site in Pleck refused last night.

Cheers went up from the public gallery as councillors on the development control committee echoed concerns of traffic and parking chaos. around the site. More than 500 campaigners signed a petition and sent in protest letters against the plans, which included 29 car parking spaces.

Local ward Councillor Mushtaq Ahmed told the meeting: "The application would be detrimental to the amenities of the surrounding residents, by the way of the noise and nuisance that would be created.

"The lack of car parking would exacerbate the existing congestion on the street."

Opposition also came from large sections of the local Muslim community, who dismissed the planned place of worship on St John's Road for the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam as unnecessary.

Lead campaigner and nearby resident Sue Hayward said she was delighted with the decision.

"Common sense has prevailed," she said.

"We have tried to make clear all along that while we have no problem with any new place of worship, this was simply an unsuitable site.

"It just goes to show what we can do when we stick together as a community, whether people are black or white, rich or poor."

Dr Azher Siddiq, president of Walsall's Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, had argued that it was a basic right to have a place of worship for a religious group, but said he accepted the decision.

"We are obviously extremely disappointed," he said. "We thought we had made a very comprehensive application and that we had addressed the parking issue adequately.

"We accept the decision in a democratic society and believe it is the will of god."

He added that the group were keeping an open mind as to their next move.

Councillor Mike Bird moved that it be refused.