Mosque Parking Scandal in Pictures! Spot the Oddity!

Glasnost has arrived in Sandwell! The bunch of grovellers who constitute Sandwell Council's Labour Group loudly applauded their buffoonish "leader" last night at what was supposed to be a full Council "meeting" when he made the historic announcement. In a Reaganesque homily the ridiculous Cooper said that Sandwell could not conduct its business as it had done in the past. Everything would now be open to public scrutiny. This is, of course, what is popularly known as "bollocks" and we shall see if the new spirit of "openness" extends to 5 pm today when the Asset Management and Land Disposal (AMLD) Committee meet and agree the stinking (secret) Mosque car park deal!

For further information on the secret deal please see my posts, "Mosque Car Park - Another Secret Labour sale at an Undervaluation" and "Mosque Parking Scandal - Chance for Labour Group & Council to Reflect...."

Shaftesbury House is a large office block right on West Brom High Street. It is owned by Sandwell Council. But the building is empty whilst the "canny" comrades pay taxpayers' money to rent office space elsewhere eg three whole floors of Guardian House - one of the most expensive office blocks in West Bromwich - via their "SIPS" partnership. I pointed out a long time ago that it would have been highly suitable for use by Sandwell College (subject to refurb costs) IF that College really needed to expand but Labour decided on the multi-million pound (still secret) project to destroy The Public instead. In fact, there is a college actually in the office building next door.

Shaftesbury House - now a public asset - is being left to rot and will require a costly refurb or demolition. If the latter proceeds there will be a very large plot for development right in the High Street. As shown below there is a large car park and beyond this to the right is the attached "overspill" car park which is the subject of this blog (see below)

Main Car Park

I am sure some of the local businesses would be grateful for some cheap overspill car parking whilst a decision on the future of Shaftesbury House is made and it will be interesting to see if the "socialists" have actually consulted them! Certainly the small car park for the next-door building is well-used:

Next Door

On the other side is a GP's surgery and they must have limited parking noting the warning signs stating that parking is strictly for patients only.

The planners at Labour Sandwell Council have given planning permission for a large mosque in  residential Dartmouth Street in recent history but here's an oddity. The permission was specifically for an "in and out" ie one way layout for the mosque's own car park but take a look at these pictures:

Main Vehicular Access

Street Setting

"Out" Access ?

You will note that what is the only possible "out" access in the "in and out" layout is EXTREMELY narrow and does not appear to be in use for vehicles. Accordingly, it APPEARS on the face of it that the mosque are in breach of the conditions of their SMBC planning permission. I have to say that I am surprised that the planners agreed to this UNLESS of course, someone at SMBC had already promised to find the mosque some extra parking space....

Just in case you think the proposed car park - which is NOT adjacent to the mosque - is an insignificant little patch take a look:

"Overspill" Car Park - SH in background

Large Plot

Housing next door.

This is a large plot and clearly could be used for housing (like the area next door). Last night, the Labour High Command were pleading poverty when making cuts eg youth service & The Public but said they were not at fault and their problems were solely down to the Government/"The Tories". Yet THEY are driving this project and seeking to sell this plot at what they themselves admit is an undervaluation (although they are still keeping the actual sums secret, of course). Sandwell Labour can't blame anyone else for this scandal but themselves.

If there are plans for Shaftesbury House then these too are secret but it is hard to imagine in a period of rapidly rising land values that the sale of this significantly-sized plot cannot but diminish the value of the whole Shaftesbury House plot but that is what the sleazy "socialists" are alleging! How so Sandwell Council?

At present the only access to this plot is via the High Street. It has always been fenced-off from Earl Street to the rear:

Earl Street behind fencing

The large plot from Earl Street

In the recent High Court disaster where the dopey drones voted unanimously for an illegal and discriminatory policy which has cost taxpayers' in excess of £700,000 (nothing to do with the Government/Tories) the Judge hammered them in respect of their failure to consult before trying to change their policy. The idiotic Cooper now says everything is "open" but I managed to speak to two residents of Earl Street last night who both ASSURED me that they had received no communications whatsoever from SMBC about this plan and, as previously stated, the sleazy "socialists" seem to be admitting that they have tried to cook this secret deal up with the mosque without offering the land to anyone else, or on the open market, or by auction.

Depending on whether there IS a secret plan for Shaftesbury House it may be that this plot is surplus to requirements but if there is NO plan then Labour simply cannot say this. How can they know?

If this dodgy deal goes ahead (or rather when it goes ahead as the decision has, in reality, already been made) the fencing shown above will be removed and an access point made into Earl Street which is a small and narrow wholly residential street:

Earl Street

Earl Street

If this plot is split off from a wider redevelopment of Shaftesbury House even for housing it is suggested by the loony lefties that there will still have to be access via Earl Street but that only really applies IF the plot IS split away from the larger area. In any event, it would have been "nice" if SMBC actually asked the residents of Earl Street whether they would prefer to live next door to a small housing development or a car park.

One of the reasons stated for this rubbish is that it will relieve traffic on Dartmouth Street! Well it is only moving the alleged "problem" into narrow Earl Street!

When The Public was open its management had an ongoing battle with SMBC about long-stay parking with the Politburo stating that everyone should go there BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Different rules appear to apply in respect of this mosque even though the mosque has excellent public transport links. It also has its own car park which can be used for the elderly/infirm.

Mosque close to High Street

The above photo is taken directly outside the mosque and the large building in the centre is on the corner of the High Street which has significant bus services. A very short distance away in the opposite direction is the Dartmouth Street Metro station.

Significantly, the proposed Shaftesbury House car park is a short walk away (it is NOT adjacent to the mosque) which begs the question why a valuable plot of land should be given up at a loss to the taxpayer when there are two nearby SMBC car parks (or perhaps the comrades think worshippers should not have to pay parking charges - something other denominations may wish to explore with them!)

To the north across the High Street is the Sandwell Street/Temple Street SMBC car park (and others):

Car Park just other side of High Street by parked vehicle on left

Alternatively, there is the SMBC Edward Street car park ONLY 3 minutes moderately-paced walk away:

Edward Street - 3 minutes away

Perhaps if the seemingly cash-rich comrades want to fritter money away they could make both of these car parks free on Fridays. This would help the Muslim community AND everyone else and may also assist small retailers in West Brom being hammered by the big boys moving in - Tesco et al.

And so Cooper, there is still time for you to disclose the secret documents and figures before tonight's meeting in line with your new "policy". I invite you to do so.

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