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Multi-faith campaign to bring Moseley power from the heavens

Published: 12th July 2010 23:46

Muslim and Christian congregations in Moseley joined forces to show their support for solar panels on St Mary's Church roof.

The ambitious scheme faces a planning battle after the proposals were rejected by Birmingham City Council late last year The church has since appealed against the refusal of planning permission and the deadline for local people to email their views closes later this week.

A group of people gathered in front of the church during the annual Moseley Festival clutching posters, to show that local support is firm. According to Sustainable Moseley this local support is what really matters, and the local green organisation says it has been thrilled with the response so far.

"We felt that if something could happen that could bring the two congregations together, then that would make cohesion easier, and this project has been a godsend," says local resident Saifer Rehman. "We can say to the Muslims, 'look, if the Christians are doing things for the Muslims, then why can‟t Muslims do something for the Christians?' - and vice versa."

The proposed array of photovoltaic panels on St Mary's Church roof would generate 7,000 kWh a year - much of which would be fed back into the grid to provide electricity for other local homes and businesses.

But local planners pulled the plug on the idea after opposition from conservationists concerned about the visual impact. St Mary's Church is a Grade Two Listed building and lies at the heart of a Conservation Area.

SusMo on the otherr hand says the panels would hardly be visible and the project already has the support of many Moseley organisations including the Moseley Society; Moseley Neighbourhood Forum; and the Moseley Community Development Trust, plus ward councillor Ernie Hendricks, Roger Godsiff MP and former MP Lynne Jones.

"We believe that if the citizens express their strong favour for the project, then this will help to persuade the appeal people that it should be approved," explains Professor John Dowell, who has been leading on the St. Mary's plans for the last few years.

 

The deadline for submissions to the Government's Planning Inspectorate is Thursday July 15th. Letters and emails of support should be addressed to Ms Jenny Howland, The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN, or teamp2@pins.gsi.gov.uk , quoting reference number 2129027.

 

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