They are not squatters they own the land, and they had been illegally operating on the site, since they were behind in their application for planning permission,
/// A spokesman said that action was taken because the trust missed its final deadline, earlier this month, to lodge a masterplan.The council was investigating all options, including compulsory purchase.///
So don't you dare tell me to change the record, 'PAL'
It is good to see the council tax payers of Newham will now pay a vast fortune to Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaa for a worthless piece of land, so at least the story has a happy ending.
Tablighi Jamaa never applied for planning permission for the mega-mosque, have no architects working on a design and long since sack the PR company tasked with selling the idea to locals.
Actually I smell an amazingly lucrative business opportunity.
Buy a piece of land, let it be known that you're planning to build a mosque. Wait for local protests, and then get the local council to buy the land back off you at a massive mark up.
Knowing my luck I'd make the mistake of buying a piece of land in Luton and then HAVE to open and fund it!
Do you honestly believe Newham Council will pay the sect the same amount of money for the land that they purchased it from the council for?
You say 'we' have won for a change. If you think Tablighi Jamaat laughing all the way to the bank, just to stop a Mosque that they had no intention of building in the first place is a victory, then you have missed a golden opportunity to display your usual outrage.