Tears of joy as Muslims win mosque battle

December 22, 2006

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MUSLIMS cried in celebration after their controversial plans to convert a Methodist chapel into a mosque in a prosperous Lancashire market town were finally approved - at the eighth attempt.

Cheers met the decision taken at the planning meeting of Ribble Valley Council in Clitheroe, as about 150 locals, both for and against, attended the town hall meeting amid a heavy police presence.

The plans have sparked controversy in the Tory-run borough, with claims the previous refusals were made because the council caved in to opposition on racist grounds - a claim strongly rejected by the council.

Clitheroe, a town of 12,000 at the foot of the Pennines in east Lancashire, has a 300-strong Asian community.

The Muslim community dates back 40 years but has never had its own permanent place of worship.

History

The town also has a history of strong support for the far-right BNP, which failed to win a seat on the council despite polling 1,200 votes in a recent election.

Hundreds of letters objecting to the plans to convert the dilapidated Victorian former Methodist chapel into a mosque were received by the council.

At the meeting both sides packed the public gallery of the council chamber and spilled outside, with a police officer standing guard in the council chamber.

Councillor Richard Sherras, chairman of the planning committee, said there had been "substantial and oppressive" lobbying from both sides.

It had ranged from racism and abuse on one side to questioning the council's integrity by accusations of "institutional racism" on the other.

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Joey Pica, Ashton under Lyne (22/12/2006 at 11:02)

Memo to council:

Islam is a religion - not a race.

john, Clitheroe (22/12/2006 at 12:02)

If you look into this story you will find that the Muslims had already seven previous applications turned down for valid reasons, they then ran to the Racial Equality Council and the Ombudsman to complain. The vast majority of locals would not object to a Mosque but not in the already congested small town centre. But once again the Muslim leaders refuse to budge an inch and are happy to upset the majority of residents. And people are actually surprised that the BNP are getting a higher than expected vote in this otherwise peaceful community.

Andy, Bury (22/12/2006 at 12:17)

Joey, not sure why you're memo is directed at the council?

But the blurring of the line between race and religion has been well exploited by the the race-hate peddlars of the far right (for Muslim read Asian).

This is a place of worship for a long established community - good luck to them. I hope that people respect their right to worship and express their faith in peace.

Joey Pica, Ashton under Lyne (22/12/2006 at 12:47)

Andy,
If the council were accused of racism, as seems likely - they are not guilty - by reason that Islam is not a race. They have given the permission accused of something which was patently wrong.
I niether support or oppose the change of use.

Ace Riley, manchester (22/12/2006 at 14:35)

Islam is a way of life "we in the west forget this" the problem with this is we end up with their ways overiding our indigenous ways??of living.This is what causes a division?These two ways are not compatable.

Enigma, Trafford (23/12/2006 at 12:10)

So what is your suggestion Ace?

anon, manchester (23/12/2006 at 21:39)

i think its great that their plans have been accepted, theres no reason why it shouldn't have been.

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