Mosque plan refused amid wave of protest

Multi-million pound plans for a mosque and community centre along a busy gateway in the Black Country have been thrown out amid protests from thousands of campaigners.

But the door has been left open for Dudley Muslim Association to draw up a revised plan and it has been given extra three years to submit another application for the development.

It would have been built on the former Nuttall factory site, in Hall Street, under the controversial £6 million plans, which were scaled down by the association in a bid to appease protestors.

The complex would include leisure facilities, open to non-Muslims, as well as two cafes, a multi-use sports hall, a gym, a nursery and a permanent exhibition of Muslim beliefs.

But Dudley Council planners threw out the proposals last night, claiming the development would be out of character with the medieval features of the town including Dudley Castle.

Concerns over traffic problems and the possibility of increased parking issues were also raised.

Speaking after the meeting committee chairman, Councillor Colin Wilson, said the people of Dudley would have been "dismayed and disillusioned" had the proposals gone through.

However, the association was successful in applying to extend the time limit to submit another planning application on the land within the next three years. And spokesman Mushtaq Hussain today said the organisation would not rule out appealing the rejection.

Police patrolled outside Dudley Council House last night as the plans were discussed in front of around 20 people in the public gallery.

A petition of more than 7,000 signatures was handed in during the meeting. The legal bill to halt plans for the mosque has cost the council £58,378.50. Three petitions opposing it attracted up to 80,000 signatures.