Muslims join battle to stop new mosque

More than 200 people, including members of the Muslim community, joined forces at a packed public meeting to fight controversial plans for a new mosque in Walsall.

People living near the planned mosque at the former Hertz Rent-A-Car and Autocrash Repair Centre, in St John's Road, Pleck, were joined by Muslims from the area in opposing the scheme.

Residents say dozens more cars would be brought on to an already busy road if the current proposals are given the go-ahead by Walsall Council planners.

Representatives of an existing mosque in nearby Woodward Road said there are already enough mosques in the area.

A meeting last night at Pleck Working Men's club, next to the proposed site in Scarborough Road, resolved a committee would be set up to campaign against the application.

Pat Etchells, aged 57, from Darlaston Road, said: "There are already parking problems here and we are going to have a red route down the road soon.

"I am concerned about access for the emergency services as much as anything, with Walsall Manor just a short distance away."

Sue Hayward, who also lives nearby, said: "It's not a large piece of land and certainly not big enough for all the cars there will be there."

"We are a happy, multicultural area, but this is not the right place for another mosque."

Farhan Ul Sabah, from the mosque in Woodward Road, said he was also against the development.

"We in the Muslim community support you in protesting against the new mosque and we hope we can all work together to do this," he said.

Aftab Ahmed, who also worships at the mosque in Woodward Road, said: "We have a mosque just 100 yards down the road.

"There are only eight families in the area that will use this mosque we are happy for them to use ours. We all need to stick together against these plans."

The plans have been submitted to Walsall Council and will be discussed by councillors at a development control committee meeting at a date yet to be arranged.