Mosque Parking Scandal - Chance for Labour Group & Council to Reflect.....

Isn't it funny how Labour Sandwell Council never initiate any dodgy deals but people beat a way to their door to propose "deals" which then come to pass.

Firstly, we had the allegation that Sandwell College approached the brothers and sisters to steal and destroy The Public but the College now formally deny this! (Ongoing, watch this space....).

Secondly there is the ongoing ice rink scandal. Once again it is alleged the ice rink developers "approached" the Council whereas Labour's thick "leader" said something else to the media (see posts passim).

Thirdly, there is BogGate (thanks Coral for the moniker) when Mr Quyam appeared from nowhere to make an offer on the unmarketed bogs which were then sold to him at a price way under the official valuation. (Again, see posts passim).

And here we go again with the proposed sale of valuable land at an undervalue to a mosque. Most of the details are secret but Labour say "A request has been made BY THE MOSQUE to acquire the land" (even though it is not adjacent to the Mosque and currently only has access to West Brom High Street so that a separate entrance will have to be made into Earl Street).

The mosque (which is advertised on the website Mosque Directory as for men only) has its own parking (as per its planning permission) which could be used for the elderly/infirm and there are a number of SMBC public car parks just a very short walk away eg Edward Street or Sandwell Road/Temple Street. There are also public transport options with many bus services along the High Street and also the nearby Metro station at Dartmouth Street.

The main report is still secret but it seems the planning and highway people are the only ones who have been asked to look into this and there is no reference anywhere to an independent valuation. SMBC bought Shaftesbury House fairly recently and it is a massive, empty , office block right on the High Street. Clearly this is a large and potentially valuable development site but Sandwell Labour are publicly alleging that the sale of 1.25 hectares (space for 50  - FIFTY - cars) is "not required for any future development or use of Shaftesbury House"! How can they possibly say this? Where is the factual basis for this allegation? In a rising property market how can carving off a significant plot of land from a larger plot not affect the value of the latter? Where else has this plot been marketed? Why has the value not been tested on the open market? Who else has been given the chance to make an offer?

Even the plan is being kept secret let alone the so-called "valuations". Let us not forget that Sandwell Labour have been diverting s106 "planning gain" monies (eg from Tesco) for vanity "public realm" projects like the daft statue when it should have be used for infrastructure improvements and, more particularly, affordable housing. (The old college site just down the road was originally earmarked for affordable housing by the Homes and Communities Agency but that idea has now been dropped in favour of the proposed "clap clinic" building). Even the comrades admit that the land would be far more valuable for housing and let us hope the number of "X's" in the secret SMBC documents are not a portent of the actual figures ie amount payable by mosque "XXXXX"; true value of land (allegedly) "XXXXXX" therefore approval sought to sell at an undervalue of "XXXXX". If these "X's" ARE indicative, a six-figure site is being sold for a five figure sum on the basis of imposing a restrictive covenant which could be removed at some future date (probably in secret). This at a "five-figure" loss to the local taxpayer.

Tonight the comrades will gather for their secret Labour Group meeting. You would think after the recent High Court disaster, when they happily waved through an illegal and discriminatory policy losing the taxpayer between £700,000 and £1M, they would behave more responsibly but in Sandwell shit sticks to the blanket. There are only two opposition councillors but perhaps they can raise this scandalous deal at the full Council on Tuesday before this crap (at best) deal is "authorised" by the AMLD Cabinet Committee on Wednesday night?

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