High Court backs council in buy back of land where mosque proposed

The High Court has ruled in favour of a council seeking to buy back land that was proposed as the site for a new mosque.

The judge rejected the defence put forward by the Dudley Muslim Association (DMA) against Dudley Council’s move. The Association had hoped to build a mosque on the derelict site on Hall Street.

The DMA had submitted an amended defence in December 2011, a month after the court had struck out the majority of its previous defence.

John Polychronakis, Chief Executive at Dudley Council, said: "The ruling allows the council to buy back the land and orders the DMA to provide the council with all paperwork and the vacant site by May 25. Subject to any appeal, this brings to an end the unfortunate dispute over the land without the need for a full High Court hearing."

The judge also awarded the local authority £55,000 in costs.

Kurshid Ahmed of the DMA told the BBC he was "bitterly disappointed" with the judgment, adding that the dispute had damaged community relations.

Dudley Council refused planning permission for the mosque for a second time in September last year.