PLANS for a new mosque in Worcester have divided opinion but the city council has made the right decision by approving the application.

Ultimately, the growing Muslim community in Worcester needs a bigger mosque to meet demand and, as long as the venue does not cause more traffic issues – and the experts say it won’t – the city should welcome such a bold and imaginative new building on a currently ugly site.

Sadly, many racists used the mosque plans to trot out tired and offensive reasons why the new place of worship should be rejected.

Thankfully, city councillors on the planning committee made their decision based purely on planning factors.

The vital questions were:

  • Is there a need for a new mosque in the city? Yes.
  • Would the new mosque worsen traffic and parking issues in the city? No, according to the county highways department.
  • Would the new mosque have a negative impact on existing residents in that area? No, according to planning officers.

To reject the application for the mosque against the advice of the planning officers, simply because the vocal minority opposed the plans, would have been wrong.

Ignorant people claimed a new mosque was a symptom of Muslims 'trying to take over' Worcester, but that's a ridiculous view.

Wanting to build a bigger place of worship in order to meet rising demand is not 'trying to take over', it's just a sign that a faith community is growing.

If the number of Christians in Worcester was growing, there would be a need for more or bigger churches – if that was the case, would the same people who opposed the mosque plans be as aggressively opposed to a new church? 

I would have been ashamed for Worcester if our city council had rejected the new mosque. The councillors made the right decision.