DUDLEY Council have given the controversial new Highfields Yemeni Community Centre in Halesowen the go-ahead.

Councillors on the Development Control committee visited the Highfields Lane site and passed the Yemeni Community Association’s plans to demolish the existing building and replace it with a two storey centre.

Local residents are furious as they lodged 14 letters of objection against the centre and handed in a 102 signature petition opposing the application.

Complaints included loss of privacy, existing noise and disturbance, the size and scale of the building, loss of sunlight and parents using St Kenelm’s Primary School would have parking problems.

Residents and Highways Officers have expressed concern that the centre should not be used as a place of worship because of the increased traffic problems.

One Cavalier Drive resident, who did not want to be named, phoned the Halesowen News this week crying after finding out the new centre was approved.

She said: “I can not believe the councillors have allowed this new community centre to be built on our doorstep.

“The noise and the parking problems are already too much too bare and it is only going to get worse.”

She added: “None of the councillors have taken any notice of the petition or what we think and I’m getting ill because of what is happening on my doorstep.”

The new centre will have a community function room, better educational facilities, more car parking spaces, a bigger place to worship and is further away from nearby homes.

However, the Yemeni Community Association of Halesowen will have to stick to a raft of conditions stipulated as part of the planning application being approved.

One condition states: “The premises shall be used for a community centre only and for no other purpose.”

Other conditions include no loudspeakers being installed outside, strict sound levels, not to be open after 9.30pm and to undertake a traffic management plan before development work can start.