It must be pointed out that this is not creating a new facility but simply relocating an existing facility a few yards down the road to more suitable premises.

The Salaam Resource Centre is an established and successful part of the local area serving the needs of not just local people but also people town-wide and even further afield.

It has been one of the most successful projects created by New Deal for Communities and has even received national recognition.

The creation of the new centre was also combining another local project which would have seen the creation of training opportunities for 60 local youngsters who would have worked on the project, learning various trades such as plumbing, joinery, plastering, etc.

And this at a time when the country is in desperate need for skilled workers – so much so they have to be recruited from abroad.

The actual reason given for refusal was that it would create parking problems in the area disrupting local businesses, which I feel is a lame excuse.

It should be noted that Murray Street has recently been revamped with the creation of a car park solely for benefit the people using available facilities in Murray Street, which I must add is stood empty for the majority of time.

As well as this, Lynnfield School also offered the use of their car parking facilities if required and it should be noted that in the six and a half years the Salaam Resource Centre has been on Murray Street there have never been any parking issues.

In fact, it has played an important role in improving the area by offering educational opportunities, finding employment for scores of people as well as helping local businesses and residents accessing better security, not to mention playing a vital role in having a security camera installed in the area.

The list goes on and on.

All that has happened is that two valuable projects have been put on hold, albeit temporarily, much to the loss of local youngsters.

All responsible for this should hang their heads in shame.

A Majid,
Hart Lane,
Hartlepool.

AFTER reading and digesting both sides of the argument about converting St Paul's Church hall into a mosque and recreation centre, I would like to applaud Hartlepool Council for coming to the right decision in refusing planning permission.

The committee of the Salaam Centre, in Murray Street, stated that such a conversion would benefit the whole area.

I fail to see how this would come about as the area from Grange Road to Hart Lane and York Road to Welldeck Road contains approximately 97 per cent Christian families.

How then will 97 per cent of the people living in this area benefit from a mosque?

Such a conversion and the award of a £400,000 Government grant would only benefit three per cent of the people living in the area.

The committee members of the Salaam Centre also stated that they already have a mosque close by.

So why the need for another mosque in an area that has only nine parking spaces for 12 businesses?

The committee members of the Salaam Centre state that local people will be able to visit the community centre and learn skills for work placement.

Well isn't this what the College of Further Education, Brougham Enterprise workshops, the Owton Fens workshops and the West View
Project were set up to do?

This is simply a duplication of what already exists and is already available to everyone living in the Murray Street area.

The conversion of St Paul's Church hall into a mosque and community centre will not benefit everyone in the Murray Street area, only a very small minority of it and, as stated previously, I applaud Hartlepool Council for coming to the correct decision in rejecting the application.

NB: I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, a very strict Islamic country, for 10 years. I came to know and understand the culture, religion and beliefs and was often invited to sit and share meals with my Saudi counterparts.

The paternal side of my family is Welsh, my maternal side is Irish and my daughter married a Scotsman. So please don't call me racist.

Edward Powell,
Birchill Gardens,
Hartlepool