Old pub reopens as a mosque

A mosque is operating at a former Wolverhampton pub without the proper planning permission.

A council inquiry has found the former Golden Eagle pub in Whitmore Reans is being used, although there has been no planning application to change the use of the property.

The issue was brought to the authority's attention after residents complained of parking problems caused by visitors to the site, on the corner of Horden Road and Court Road.

Wolverhampton City Council's head of development control Stephen Alexander said today: "The premises is being used as a place of worship without planning permission.

"A retrospective planning application is being prepared."

It is unclear whether the mosque will be allowed to continue to operate until the application has been approved.

One resident in Court Road who asked not to be named, said: "Until it has got planning permission it should be locked up."

A retired resident of the same road, added the road was "chocablock" with traffic. And another neighbour said: "I have no problem with it being a mosque but I have reservations about

it not being done through the proper channels."

No-one from the mosque was willing to comment.