Anger at new mosque plan (From Halesowen News)

Anger at new mosque plan

2:21pm Thursday 7th December 2006

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Residents and businesses are fuming over plans to extend a Halesowen mosque - just streets away from two other mosques - which they claim will create traffic hell.

Plans to extend the Bangali Mosque in New John Street have met with opposition from residents - a petition has been started against plans and letters of objection have been sent to the council.

Protestors say there is already Blackheath Mosque in nearby Long Lane and work is underway to replace Jamia Mosque's existing buildings in Malt Mill Lane by constructing a two-storey Islamic cultural and community centre with a towering minaret.

They claim the built-up residential area, near to industrial estates, is already a traffic blackspot and plans for a single-storey rear extension in New John Street will lead to even more worshippers visiting, creating more motoring misery.

Pamela Roberts, of The Shell Corner and Long Lane Area Group, (SCALLA) said: "So many mosques in one spot is overintensive - the traffic problem is awful.

"It's terrible - the traffic is already appalling so the proposed extension in New John Street will worsen the situation and do the wider community no service at all, simply drawing more cars into the neighbourhood to park on a regular basis and causing even more congestion."

Lisa Coxshall, who works in the area, is opposing the extension. She said: "It will make an existing problem worse.

"Some days the buses can't get to the stops because it's not safe - it's havoc. There's a big, big problem down here."

Nash Warren Insurance Services, on Long Lane, has objected. A letter to the council states: "The already heavy traffic flow is causing passing trade to diminish as our office becomes less and less accessible.

"The proposed extension will increase the already heavy traffic flow for such a small road, having an adverse effect on most local businesses."

Shahidur Rahman, vice chairman of the Bangali mosque said: "We only use the mosque mainly on Friday afternoons between 1pm and 2pm - at that time there are plenty of spaces there because residents are working.

"Only five or six people use it during the week and our timetable will remain the same."

Mr Rahman plans to get a traffic survey done to prove there isn't a problem.

A petition with more than 1,000 signatures has been submitted against the building of the Jamia mosque on Malt Mill Lane but despite this work can go ahead because it was approved by the council some years ago.

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