Mosque plans begin after go-ahead
Controversial plans for an £18million mosque in Dudley are now being drawn up in detail after the scheme won the backing of a High Court.
Muslim leaders have pledged to make the mosque dreams in Dudley a reality, after a judge supported a government inspector's decision to grant outline permission.
Despite losing their court battle yesterday to block the scheme, Dudley Council bosses have now revealed they may mount a final bid to scupper the project.
Council leader Anne Millward added that the proposed mosque site in Hall Street could be seized by the council, using a buy-back clause as a last resort.
Outline planning permission for the development was granted by a government inspector, after being thrown out by the council.
But, sitting at Birmingham's Civil Justice Centre, Judge Mr Justice Wyn Matthews yesterday rejected Dudley Council's appeal against the decision, meaning the project can now plough ahead.
The High Court action, which has cost taxpayers around £16,000, comes after a five-year battle over the mosque plans.
Mushtaq Hussain, secretary of Dudley Muslim Association which is behind the plans, said: "We now need to go back and share this decision with our board members and move towards full planning permission, which means drawing up detailed plans."
Councillor Millward is now considering "all options" and would be in talks with chief executive John Polychronakis.
Bosses believe the plans could be compromised under the terms of a land swap deal agreed by the council and the DMA in 2001.
The deal stated the mosque had to be "substantially built" by the end of last year, or the council could buy the land back at an agreed price.
