Despite protests from local residents, and contrary to the borough planning officer's recommendations, at a meeting on Thursday, April 24, Blackburn Council gave the go ahead for a Moslem school, in Eldon Road, Blackburn, to be turned into a mosque - operating five times a day, seven days a week.

Residents are outraged at the way this was dealt with by the council, who had been given instructions by the chief executive prior to the meeting as to how to proceed in this matter because of public representation.

This is despite assurances to Jack Straw and those acting on behalf of local residents that consideration and discussion would be given to this matter at the meeting. The wording of the resolution and the speed in which it was rushed through meant that those councillors who wished to register a protest were shouted down by the mayor and the council leader Malcolm Doherty.

This has left residents feeling that the council is more of a dictatorship than a democracy and that the issues regarding the safety and well-being of residents in the area are being swept aside in the rush to be voted in at the elections.

V J and M P Purcell

Local Neighbourhood

Watch Co-ordinators

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