Which Govt Inspector allowed Mosque go-ahead?

[flipnflap]

Tuesday July 22,2008 On Tuesday July 22nd, the Daily Express front page lead story stated: An �18million mosque which will dwarf everything around it has got the go-ahead � des�pite objections from 22,000 people. It had even been turned down by the local authority, but that refusal has now been over-ruled by a Government inspector. Anyone know the name of that Inspector?

[Gromit]

Faceless beauracrats are seldom named, but it does had insult to injury by saying he is from Bristol.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/53513

It is not unusual for Government inspectors to over-rule local objections, but it is usually large Supermarkets which are the beneficiaries.

Just because people can see it and they object to the religion isn't a good enough reason in law to deny permission for it. The government inspector will instead assess traffic and parking implications. The fact that it will dwarf the local church is immaterial.

[buildersmate]

If this was a new Tesco or a new Government, would such a fuss be made?
Planning Appeals are made on the basis of a rational analysis of the applicable Planning Policies that apply, plus the balance of benefits versus the downsides.
22k people objecting is an irrelevence - 22k people cannot possibly be impacted by such a new structure - its the quality of the reasons behind the objection - not the weight of the tome presented to the enquiry.
Anyone know the name of the Editor of the Daily Express? - perhaps he/she should answer for stirring up racial hatred.

[Oneeyedvic]

It was the planning inspectorate that over turned the decision:
http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/a gency_info/customersupport.htm

[tranmerekid]

trust buildersmate to speak up for a new building

[jake-the-peg]

He has a good point though.

It's the quality of the arguments not the number of objections that is important

[nedflanders]

I am sure it would fit in nicely in mecca but in Bristol I think it would be a bit of an eyesore. Still we need to give the future suicide bombers of Bristol somewhere nice to get radicalised and train don't we.

[keyplus90]

Local residents should take positive out of this. In a time where house prices are going downhill, local residence would be able to sell their houses to Muslims moving in the area due to the mosque. They pay extra to be able to buy one near the mosque. As do Hindu, Sikh, and many others to move near their places of worship. With due respect how many people who are talking about mosque dwarfing the Church and so, would pay extra only to move near to the church.

As far as planning, 22000 people etc is concerned then what others said makes more sense.

[rov1200]

It would be a lot simpler if they handed the country over to Muslims lock stock and barrel. Then the British could be the pseudo immigrants and we know they would just lie back and have the sh?t thrown over them without a fuss.

[Quinlad]

I'd like the powers-that-be to build an �18m church near me.

Then when people don't bother attending, they can turn it into a nightclub like they seem to be doing with all these other pointless churches in London.

[keyplus90]

I know one church, a huge one in Cardiff right on the junction of two main roads. It has 99p store opened in that now. If anyone is from that area, they would confirm it.

[whiffy]

Stories like this used to make me incandescent, but of late I don't care. The famous saying about Britain sleepwalking? Well this is just another step in that unseeing stumble to disaster.

[jno]

several of them round my way have been converted into flats, Quinlad. Tres chic.

[VINNY100_2]

I wouldnt object to the building,if it was built on the same lines as the one in London.But I couldnt stand all that wailing through a giant speaker calling people to prayer.Perhaps they could build in a clause that they send wailing E.Mails instead.or use signal flags..(:O)