Councillors vote to stick with Accrington mosque plan (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Councillors vote to stick with Accrington mosque plan

4:30pm Friday 12th June 2009 in

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COUNCILLORS have decided to stick with initial plans to site a large mosque in Accrington following a heated debate on the plans.

Hyndburn Borough Council held an ‘Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting’ today to focus solely on West Accrington’s regeneration plans, which include a mosque for 2,500 worshippers in the Steiner Street area.

During the meeting the cabinet was addressed by members of the public and local businesses who had mixed views on the moque plan, while backing the overall scheme.

The meeting came after a number of leaflets were distibuted to residents claiming the mosque would have a negative effect on race relations.

Due to the controversy cabinet took the unusual stage of adjourning for an hour to discuss the issue, before making their decision.

During the meeting, council leader Peter Britcliffe pointed out to various speakers that the plan was not a formal planning application, but an idea for the area.

Calling for a calm discussion, he also referred to the distibution of leaflets in the area, and said they had “heightened tensions”.

Speaking on behalf of Grimshaw Mosque, Shabir Siddiq said the new Accrington Central Mosque, would be funded entirely by the Muslim community.

Mr Siddiq said it would replace the current Grimshaw Street mosque, a small mosque on Blackburn Road and the Portland Street Community Centre.

He said that parking provision would be 200 spaces and that there would be no calls to prayer outside the building.

Mr Siddiq said the communtiy centre would be built on the site would be separate and open to all.

He said: “The mosques are currently operating at full capacity and people are spilling out on the street during funerals.”

Coun Britcliffe said there had been “an intense discussion” among councillors.

He said: “All the arguments have been well put but on balance it appears that the mosque has the support of both the Conservative and Labour ward councilors, the West Accrington Residents’ Association, the Labour party and Greg Pope. I would however stipulate that further consultation is undertaken with key parties before any planning application is made.”

Other than the mosque, the plans include a new public space and ‘pocket garden’ in the West Accrington area.