“Really the issue is not weather the church was burned down for racist reasons, the real issue is the proposed use of the plot of land. I live on Boutham Park Road, my issue is not with the Mosque (although looking at the proposed plan it really will stick out like a sore thumb) or the Supermarket, it the whole use of this plot of land alltogether. The current volume of traffic that uses Boultham Park Road and Dixon Street is high already, so to add to this would be ridiculous! I ask, have you ever tried to get from Tritton Road to Dixon street during 09:00-19:00?, if you have then you will know how bad it is already without adding to this a supermarket and a mosque. CRAZY!”

“Ah the old,' try building a church in Tehran arguement'. That isn't the question and you have chosen a volatile Muslim country rather than one which is more settled. The only reason that the mosque can be built here is there is (thankfully) a majority of tolerant people who out weight the xenophobes. I won't call into question which side you sit, and never have.
Again, the parking issue is a presumption and no one has stated from the worshipers that they will all be travelling in cars, or that they would park them near the mosque. In fact with new parking rules coming in, they would not be allowed to do this. They could park further away and walk, some people can still do this. I am 'baffled' as to why people keep using this convenient official excuse.
The Muslim community spent money on architectural plans on how to use the church in its previous form. As for it having been vandalised before, I don't that think it means, bang goes the racist theory. For a start it was never my suposition that it was a racist attack. Oh and the quote from Dr Zafar states that he could not rule out it being a hate crime, but does not state this is what he thinks, merely that it cannot be ruled out, as neither can it be ruled out as an accident.
Yes the Plymouth idea is convenient, have the muslims in a place out the way of the rest of 'us'. You complain they don't intergrate and create ghettos on one hand, then you refuse them permission to worship within the city on the other.
I agree the current plans for the mosque are out of keeping with the current surroundings which is why I would suggest they alter the plans. However I would not have this as a grounds for outright refusal to build a mosque there. As for why the grounds can't be made into a park, ask the Church of England as the land is reserved for a religious building.
Please please please meet the guys who worship in Orchard St, they are very pleasant people who just want a place to worship.”

“Looking at the proposed building; if the minorty of christians or jews in muslim countries wanted to build a typically English gothic stylised church or a typically orthodox synagogue in Islamabad or Tehran, would such an application be even considered... I think not. So do not play the racisim card thank you very much. The UK is one of the most tollerant countries in the word. Why do you think just about every nationality have come here both legally and illegally. I am oposed to the mosque being built in that specific site, but that does not mean that I am opposed to a mosque being built full stop. Unlike many muslim countries we tollerate other religions and we do not persecute other faiths. However, the muslim community, whether it be Lincoln, London or anywhere in the UK must realise that they cannot place their faith above our national security and the law of the land. If muslim leaders discover other muslims that are planning terrorisim or have any other connection with terrorisim, they have a duty of care to report these people to the police.There are certain laws, rules and regulations anybody must adher to living in the UK. If you cannot accept our laws then why would you want to live here?”

“I think J, you should take a walk along Boutham Park Road and knock on a few doors. Listen to what the residents say. Most have lived there for generations. They do not want a mosque; not because they are being racist, but because 1/ Parking is already intollerable 2/ The proposed mosque would overpower and overshadow nearby homes (which would lose their privacy from a two storey building) and the proposed builsing simply would stand out like a sore thumb. Should the council allow this development to go ahead despite objections legal action could be taken against the council by the residents if they can provide independent evidence that their properties have become devalued by the building of the mosque. It is not about creed or colour it is about the total unsuitability of a site which was bought very cheaply because it had a listed building on it. Look at the backdated Lincolnshire Echo newspapers at the Echo offices on the Brayford. The leader of the islamic community in Lincoln played along with the racist attack story that proved to be completely baseless. I also diagree that the islamic community have lost money over the former church burning down. The fire conveniently draws us away from the suposition that it could easily have been carried out in order to clear the site for a purpose built mosque. Either possibilty is as plausible as the other though I cannot see even a racist wanting to burn down a church. Also, the former church had already been vandalised long before it was even considered as a mosque. So, bang goes the racist theory yet again. I think that the islamic community should take a leaf out of the Plymouth Bretheren's book. They have built edge of town devellopments with plentyful parking and they do not cause anyone any problems. At the end of the day whether it be christian, jew, sikh or muslim, we should all be subject to the planning regulations and playing the racist card in my opinion is no more than a cheap trick. Lastly, the area would be best utilised as a park along with seats, flowers, shrubs and a safe place for the young and the elderly to sit. The only place there for children to play at the moment is along the river which is dangerous. Why not turn it into a green space for the young, the old and people of all creeds and colours....”

“You have a right to say as you wish so don't trot out that old cliche. Although I notice you do like them with reference to blinkers (to suggest anyone who disagrees must be brainwashed). The irnoy being that I have travelled most of the world and lived in many places with friends from every religion. Strangely I don't find myself living in fear of any of them.
Anyway to address a few errors. The Islamic leader, Dr Zafar did not 'brand it a racist attack', in response to the leading question do you believe this could be a hate crime attack he answered "It is very sad for us obviously and there is a possibility it is a hate crime,". So he said it was possible. Now as you are on about blinkers so often, remove them for a second. In a letter to the paper someone mentions that the current place of worship has been the target of attacks before. Also the Muslim community have already lost money by the mosque burning down so would be crazy to burn it down.
The question of parking is a presumption and it could be that muslims will hire a mini bus like in Max and Paddy (joking) or a bus to take people there.
Most cities currently are not developing ghettos, that is simple scare mongering. It would sit a lot more comfortably with me if you were honest about your concerns with this and the real reason you don't want 'them' to have a facility in Lincoln.”

“I think that anyone with any level of intelligence can see exactly what is happening here. The bigger picture here is very clear to the unblinkered. Considering the vastly superior forensic abilities of the police and the fire brigade we are still told that they do not know who started the fire. I think that is rubbish. I remember the leader of the islamic community in Lincoln branding the fire as racist arson but when it was proved not to be a racist attack the islamic leader did not retract his baseless alegation and did not apologidse to the people of Lincoln. So much for wishing to become a part of our community by not having the decency to admit he was wrong. I believe it is known how the fire started but it is not in the 'public interest' to say who started it. Judge that for yourselves..Considering the amount of worshiippers that the new building intends to accomodate one can only come to the conclusion that the site at Boultham Park was always going to be too small and parking was always going to be an issue. However, considering the impotency of both local and national government the islamic community in Lincoln were always going to get permission to use the site in any which way they wanted. I have seen the newest plans; the building will stick out like a carbunkle on the cityscape of the area. The design is completely wrong and the designers have blatantly made no attempt to compromise on design. Parking will be made untollerable, houses will be looked into and privacy will be lost by a two storey mosque and islamic centre. The value of nearby houses will fall. Christian families who have lived in the area for generations (who's family names are on the nearby war memorial) will simply sell up and move away. This will result in muslim families who want to live near their mosque moving in. This will push out christian families and turn the area into an islamic ghetto. Not only will Lincoln muslims find the area attractive but the mosque will be an open invitation for many more muslims to move to Lincoln. Next, the war memorial will be deemed offensive and it will either be attacked or will have to be re-sited because it is deemed offensive to muslims. This is not suposition,it has happened in some form every city in the UK. I do not believe that the echo will publish this comment in it's entirety because free speech for inigenouse British people is something we are rapidly losing through fear of being accused or racisim or anti social behaviour. However, my fears are the fears of many people who dare not say what they really think....”

“It was a foregone conclusion around here, that following the fire at the tin church, a new application would be slapped in for a new, massive Mosque. This is going to cause noise and parking problems for residents, by people that don`t live anywhere the area. Local churches don`t cause the same problems because the churchgoers come for a smaller area.”