A MUSLIM leader has blasted a hoax letter which claimed talks were ongoing to locate the proposed £18m Dudley mosque at a run-down Kates Hill church.

A letter from someone pretending to be Dudley Muslim Association (DMA) chairman Khurshid Ahmed was sent to the Dudley News suggesting talks were taking place on plans to open the proposed mosque and community centre at St John's Church in Kates Hill.

The letter, which Mr Ahmed has now handed to police, said: "We all agree that if the church is condemned by the Church's Commission then DMA could propose buying the site and using it as a mosque and community centre."

The document claims with a "few sympathetic adjustments" the church could easily be adapted to a mosque.

According to the letter, land at Hall Street could then be sold back to Dudley Council. It also called for an "open public meeting" to discuss the plans.

But councillors have furiously denied any such proposal is on the cards and condemned the letter as a "hoax".

Angry Dudley DMA chairman Khurshid Ahmed said: "I know nothing about this letter - we've never talked about this issue.

"It's an attempt to try to cause mischief within the community.

"I'm completely baffled by who could have written that letter.

"It's potentially quite dangerous for people to play these kinds of games.

"I condemn this and have referred this matter to the police to investigate."

The mosque proposal for Hall Street was thrown out by the council's development control committee in February after a petition signed by more than 22,000 residents was submitted.

The letter was submitted after Councillor Shaukat Ali appealed for Kates Hill residents to contact him in a last-ditch attempt to save St John's Church.

Cllr Ali said: "It's a hoax. I can't understand why someone would go and do this.

"I don't know anything about the letter. I'm very surprised and shocked. Who has done this?"

To write on the future of St John's Church contact Cllr Ali through Dudley Council or email him at cllr.shaukat.ali@dudley.gov.uk before next Monday (June 18).

The "potentially dangerous" hoax letter sent to the Dudley News:

FAO Letters Page
Dudley News
St John's House
St John's Road
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY8 1EH

1st June 2007

Dear Sir/Madam

I know that I said recently that the failure to grant planning consent to the Pride of Dudley Mosque and Community Centre Project was the death of democracy'.

However, after reading your article last week about the Church Commission's imminent decision on the fate of St John's Church I have had what I believe is a good idea to resolve the current impasse which I have already discussed with Councillor Ali from St. Thomas's ward and Councillor Ahmed from the St. James's ward.

We all agree that if the church is condemned by the Church's Commission then the D.M.A.

could propose buying the site and using it as a mosque and community centre.

Councillors Ali and Ahmed agree with me that we could maintain the original features of the church and with a few sympathetic adjustments it could quite easily be adapted for use as a mosque.

This would help maintain the original building and we believe be an ideal place to locate a mosque as worshippers could use the two car parks attached to the council-run community centre for parking in order to allay worries about congestion and parking problems.

The current site of the proposed mosque on Hall Street could then to sold back to Dudley Council and used for its original purpose of job creation.

Myself and Councillors Ali and Ahmed hope to organise a public meeting in the near future where people will be given the chance to voice their opinions on this issue.

If readers have any comments on my suggestions at this early stage they can write to me, Khurshid Ahmed, DMA, 89 High Street, Dudley, W. Midlands, DY1 1QP or write to Councillor Shaukat Ali or Mr Ahmed at Dudley MBC, Council House, Priory Road, Dudley, DY1 1HF or alternatively email councillor Ali at cllr.shaukat.ali@dudley.gov.uk.

Khurshid Ahmed
DMA
89 High Street
Dudley