[Wullu]

Well even as card carrying athiest ( I don't really have a card...but you know....) I gotta shake my head at this piece of genius..........

$1:

A church has been told it needs planning permission for a wooden cross in its grounds outside - because council penpushers say it is an advert. The minister has labelled the decision "political correctness gone mad".

It has highlighted a national planning law which means church leaders can be charged for erecting a cross outside their place of worship.

Minister Paul Nzacahayo was told he would have to pay £75 for permission to erect the free-standing cross outside Dudley Wood Methodist Church.

Dudley Council said the classification of the cross as an advert is laid down in government guidelines. Mr Nzacahayo said: "I think this rule is utterly ridiculous, and I am very upset that such regulations exist."

The original church in Dudley Wood Road has been demolished to make way for housing. Services are held in the old Sunday School building in Quarry Road.

The congregation say few people realise that the Sunday School is being used despite a sign informing passers-by that the church is still open.

Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "All such crosses are defined as advertisements in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It is national legislation which is laid down in law and not a judgment made by Dudley Council."

[CanadianLynx]

maybe it was an inverted cross that was planned..

[DerbyX]

Wullu Wullu:

Well even as card carrying athiest ( I don't really have a card...but you know....) I gotta shake my head at this piece of genius..........

$1:

A church has been told it needs planning permission for a wooden cross in its grounds outside - because council penpushers say it is an advert. The minister has labelled the decision "political correctness gone mad".

It has highlighted a national planning law which means church leaders can be charged for erecting a cross outside their place of worship.

Minister Paul Nzacahayo was told he would have to pay £75 for permission to erect the free-standing cross outside Dudley Wood Methodist Church.

Dudley Council said the classification of the cross as an advert is laid down in government guidelines. Mr Nzacahayo said: "I think this rule is utterly ridiculous, and I am very upset that such regulations exist."

The original church in Dudley Wood Road has been demolished to make way for housing. Services are held in the old Sunday School building in Quarry Road.

The congregation say few people realise that the Sunday School is being used despite a sign informing passers-by that the church is still open.

Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "All such crosses are defined as advertisements in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It is national legislation which is laid down in law and not a judgment made by Dudley Council."

Its England. City councils need all the revenue they can get. If I remember correctly then churches are protected against such things as taxes and they often command some of the best land and have many revenue gathering sources beyond the standard offering plate. Brighton has a few cathedrals that attract a good deal of tourist revenue and its not unwarranted for the township to expect a little revenue in return especially as they (the township) are expected to pick up the tab for all necessary city ordinance surrounding it.

[Wullu]

All well and good Derb but what exactly has the council done for this church? The church gave up its building for a housing project and were worshipping out of their old Sunday school building. I don't think it out of line for them to want to erect a cross to elaborate on that fact.

[Zoraja]

Well it is advertising, and everybody else has to pay when they do it...

[-Mario-]

[GreatBriton]

Councils don't complain when mosques are built.

There are 1000 mosques in Britain today, even though only 3% of us are Muslims.

[Zoraja]

Yeah but how man ychurches are there, waaaaaaaaay more.