I HAVE just finished reading the article printed in the Dudley News concerning the appeal made by the Muslim Association over the council's refusal to grant planning permission for their mosque.

I am extremely concerned because, once again, the poor old public are treated to two differing stories.

On the one hand,the Muslim leader Khurshid Ahmed says he lodged the appeal because after four months, the council has not found a suitable alternative site.

On the other hand, the council say they have identified a "number" of sites, all of which have been rejected by the Muslim association.

If the council version is true, I think it fairly obvious that the action of Khurshid Ahmed is just a means of cranking up the pressure on the council (and wasting council tax money).

The arrogance of this man is beyond belief!

He is quoted as saying that "they (the council) must come up with a solution that is acceptable to all. We (Muslims) have been extremely patient".

He further says that "the original application was not considered on planning grounds" and "the decision was made after intimidation by the far right".

Yet again, for his own conceited ego, Khurshid Ahmed rolls out the thinly veiled race card because he is absolutely determined to get his own way by any means possible irrespective of local planning decision or the will of the public and hopes that the politically correct authorities will be frightened by cries of racism.

This issue is not about racism, it's about what the local population want in Dudley!

I would remind Mr Ahmed that, contrary to his remarks, the planning application was rejected on purely planning grounds in line with the UDP and incidentally that the planning committee is made up of members from across the political spectrum.

His claims that there was intimidation from the far right once again illustrates his desire to cloud the issue with race.

I was one of the many outside the council house on the night this planning application was heard and I did not see any members of the BNP or any right wing thugs.

Indeed, all I saw were normal members of the public protesting against the application.

Does Mr Ahmed consider these people, and the 25,000 others who objected, as right wing?

If so, it is he, I suggest, who has a very serious problem.

When actively searching for an alternative site, the council would do well to remember that the majority of Dudley residents do not want another mosque.

It is my understanding that there is an adequate number of mosques already serving the Muslim community.

It is obvious that if and when an alternative site is found for this project then there will be repeated local opposition.

The Muslim association surely know this.

If as they have said on several occasions they want to integrate with the indigenous population they have a strange way of showing it.

Susan Rowe
Stratford Close
Dudley