“In the Shelton area there is no youth club, no place for young teenagers to play sport or interact. This centre will be fantastic addition to the area. It will allow young people as well as the elder members of the community to utilise the community centre as well as the Masjid. So the immediate members of Shelton where this building will be are happy to see the new centre opening ¿ so other people further away should focus on the new developments in their local areas.
Already in the Shelton we have a community group using sport as vehicle to interact with youngsters from all backgrounds and have been working in the community for over 13 years ¿ Creating opportunities for Stoke-on-Trent (COFS), this centre will be ideal to carry on their hardwork indoors through the winter months.
People making comments should realise that instead of derelict buildings in the area making the area look run down a community has come along raised the cash and invested in a long term project that will benefit the local community for years to come.
Non muslims are invited to attend and see for themselves what activities are on ¿ but the chances are you won¿t be bothered and that¿s what breeds ignorance. Instead of jumping to the first that pops in your mind, why not see firsthand what¿s going on and then make your judgement. But be aware you may see English, Chinese, Saudi Arabian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Indian, Libyan, Egyptian people all integrating and learning about Islam.
In some areas of Stoke on Trent where there are drug dens, brothels, isn¿t it great that this building will be used for a positive thing rather than destroying the community and damaging the society.

Shafiq Ahmed
COFS Management”

“The funny thing is, half of you people who have left comments dont even live anywhere near this buidling at all, the muslims have raised the money themselves, so spend it where they like. They havent been given funding from the council which the BNP always like to try and fool people with that one. And i see the comment julie from norton makes, i find her comment most interesting because im a muslim and im british/white/english id love to know what country im suppose to go back to exactly? Oh and julie your in norton, nowhere near so what is the issue love? the new mosque wont impose on your life or what your believe so why are you even worried? you can all carry on your own business.”

“any jobs going when its built ? i need one .”

“It amazes me how people have commented.

If this was Gudwara, temple or church, would there have been a story? Why has the Sentinal even reported this?

Having visited the place yesterday, I can can confirm that the place does NOT have a dome.

in fact, the people I spoke to appeared local and british.

Instead of some big developer coming and demolishing this historic building, the asians will be restoring it.

And the money has been raised!!”

“The problems not the muslims or the mosques - or the people - the problems religeon... all of it - Catholic - protestant, Christian - Jews, Islam - whatever - who knows - nearly every war (except point taken about oil) is religeon based. Where's the evidence of a God?
there isn't any - because there isn't one - Why people are arguing what their own money is going to beggars belief - how often has a monk been at your door and told you not to buy yourself a Latte - spend it on something for the community instead...!
These people raised the money for something in their little community - let them spend it on whatever they like - and by the photo - looks as if it's not developed into a community facility it will soon be harbouring drug users and squatters - or any colour cread or religeon then who would pay for the clean up.!

All you church goers - do you put money into the collection plate? why not donate that to cancer research or whatever your suggesting..... Yes - there are problems with some people in this country - but I'd suggest most are the "white English" people you talk about - and because a handful of "non English British people" (basically not white) have broken the law everyone else is tarnshed with the same brush.!

Good on yer mussies.! you decorate that place all you like and enjoy the rewards whilst everyone else argues about it.”

“I say, send em all back to their own country & let them build mosque`s their if they want em. We are a British country & only want our own religions here. The rate things are going, British people will soom become far & few between.”

“Yes i agree that there has been a lot of cross breeding and most of the girls can't have a say in what they do, And the boys that says thier country is the best should be in thier own country and helping to bring peace to thier people, and not dictating what the english people should and should not doing”

“Erm, erm, I not one to be racist but.... erm, erm.”

“i have read the articles and also the comments here,i don't see what the problem is,maybe someone will help me? it says in the article that muslims raised the money for the new mosque,so surely no money set aside for the whole community would be spent? when it comes to history,we supported saddam hussein when he came to power in iraq,just as we supported osama bin laden when he fought the russians in afghanistan,then we change our minds and decide they are dictators,the recent problems with iran only highlight the attitude of britain and america,there were voting discrepancies in zimbabwe,but we wont be fighting there,why? its down to oil,no oil in zimbabwe so we won't be at war with them.
i am white,was raised protestant regularly attending christ church in tunstall,but more importantly i am human and feel we must all live together without killing each other,or fighting over where a group of people want to spend the money they have raised between them”

“what on earth is this all about? yes there are churches all over the city but that is because we live in england.. a christian country. if muslims want to go to mosques then with no diss respect they should have stayed in there own country. i think this is outrageous and disgusting, the money shud be being spent on better things such as cancer treatement for the countries own people!!!!!”