Islamic charity in talks to sell Brierfield Mills

6:00pm Saturday 25th September 2010 in Briercliffe Photograph of the Author By Jon Livesey, Reporter

FOR SALE: Brierfield Mills FOR SALE: Brierfield Mills

AN Islamic charity which owns Brierfield Mills is in talks to sell the historic site - less than a year after buying it for more than £1million.

Brian Cookson, Pendle Council’s regeneration chief, confirmed the local authority’s joint venture company Pearl2 would be interested in buying the seven-acre former Smith and Nephew site from Islamic Help, a Birmingham-based disaster relief charity.

Mr Cookson said a deal would only be struck if an ‘appropriate’ price could be agreed and confirmed discussions were ongoing.

Despite repeated attempts to contact the charity’s fundraising manager, he was unavailable for comment.

Islamic Help bought Brierfield Mills for just over £1million at the end of last year.

The charity had said it intended to use the site to house a 5,000-pupil boarding school for Muslim girls. But this was later scaled down, with plans to move just 58 Muslim girls from the Ghausia High School, in Nelson, to the site.

It also proposed a sports centre alongside a ‘commercial village’ housing start-up businesses at the site, which would become its HQ.

However, nine months have passed since those intentions were made public and there has been a lack of activity at the site.

Mr Cookson said: “We have had a number of meetings in recent months with Islamic Help and their representatives.

“We have made it clear that through its joint venture company PEARL2, the council would be interested in purchasing the mill for the purpose of regeneration, provided an appropriate price can be agreed and this discussion is ongoing.”

Clitheroe Road Residents' Association (CRRA) had opposed the school plans, claiming the facility would have been divisive.

A CRRA spokesman said: “It is Brierfield’s jewel in the crown and something that everyone sees on the approach to Pendle.

"It’s our flagship building, with the railway station at its front door and canal at its back door.

“If and when the economy recovers it will be an ideal place for redevelopment.”

Comments (21)

6:09pm Sat 25 Sep 10

duke bar says...

Whats going to happen to it now????

Its a fine building.
Whats going to happen to it now???? Its a fine building. duke bar

6:25pm Sat 25 Sep 10

FREDF2009 says...

PEARL 2, the biggest con EVER!!!!!
A company which has been set up to leach money that has been allocated to tackle deprivation and social issues until it runs out. Look at the Ace Centre for example, a £6.5 million building which was supposed to revive the town centre but instead has cost the taxpayer an extra £78000.00 due to operating at a LOSS in the first year which was developed by PEARL 2 through regeneration money for Nelson Town Centre. This PEARL 2 partnership needs to be looked at in more detail as it only seems to benefit Barnfield Construction and the public is left with white elephant buildings. Mr Cookson can say all he likes but the bottom line is Nelson is a DEAD town due to the decisions being made by the previous administration and the current senior council officers and there is nothing else they can come up with to say otherwise.
PEARL 2, the biggest con EVER!!!!! A company which has been set up to leach money that has been allocated to tackle deprivation and social issues until it runs out. Look at the Ace Centre for example, a £6.5 million building which was supposed to revive the town centre but instead has cost the taxpayer an extra £78000.00 due to operating at a LOSS in the first year which was developed by PEARL 2 through regeneration money for Nelson Town Centre. This PEARL 2 partnership needs to be looked at in more detail as it only seems to benefit Barnfield Construction and the public is left with white elephant buildings. Mr Cookson can say all he likes but the bottom line is Nelson is a DEAD town due to the decisions being made by the previous administration and the current senior council officers and there is nothing else they can come up with to say otherwise. FREDF2009

6:26pm Sat 25 Sep 10

time.team says...

How I wish there was a British Isles?
-
The Tony Blair lifelike lost and the Gordon Brown lifelike won!
As an almost lifelong Labour supporter how I wish there was still a Labour Party!
How I wish there was a British Isles? - The Tony Blair lifelike lost and the Gordon Brown lifelike won! As an almost lifelong Labour supporter how I wish there was still a Labour Party! time.team

6:42pm Sat 25 Sep 10

duke bar says...

Team i think your medicine needs taking soon.
Team i think your medicine needs taking soon. duke bar

6:43pm Sat 25 Sep 10

DaveBurnley says...

A very true sentiment time.team. The founders of the Labour movement must be spinning in their graves.
A very true sentiment time.team. The founders of the Labour movement must be spinning in their graves. DaveBurnley

7:12pm Sat 25 Sep 10

workaholic says...

I agree Dave !
I agree Dave ! workaholic

7:48pm Sat 25 Sep 10

wrinkles says...

Are they as underhand as this lot?

The dreams of a Birmingham based disaster relief charity, Islamic Help, of establishing a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls at Brierfield Mills in Pendle was shattered by the Charity Commission. The charity watchdog ruled that Islamic Help was operating outside its charitable objects in raising money for a school.

In a hard hitting decision the Charity Commission ordered donations to be returned to those who had responded to the appeal for funds.
Are they as underhand as this lot? The dreams of a Birmingham based disaster relief charity, Islamic Help, of establishing a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls at Brierfield Mills in Pendle was shattered by the Charity Commission. The charity watchdog ruled that Islamic Help was operating outside its charitable objects in raising money for a school. In a hard hitting decision the Charity Commission ordered donations to be returned to those who had responded to the appeal for funds. wrinkles

7:54pm Sat 25 Sep 10

FREDF2009 says...

Mr Wrinkles

If you only knew! They are probably worse considering that PEARL & PEARL2 have been operating for the last couple of years and when you add up the amount of money that has been leached from the taxpayer which is in its millions it is nothing compared to the £2000.00 that had to be returned by Islamic Help.
Mr Wrinkles If you only knew! They are probably worse considering that PEARL & PEARL2 have been operating for the last couple of years and when you add up the amount of money that has been leached from the taxpayer which is in its millions it is nothing compared to the £2000.00 that had to be returned by Islamic Help. FREDF2009

7:59pm Sat 25 Sep 10

skinmanbfc says...

so an islamic charity buys an historical site then sells it... mmm well why would they be interested in anything british and historical??? just another irritating story to come out of todays society.. and another reason why this coutry and im getting sick of repeating is on its backside
so an islamic charity buys an historical site then sells it... mmm well why would they be interested in anything british and historical??? just another irritating story to come out of todays society.. and another reason why this coutry and im getting sick of repeating is on its backside skinmanbfc

9:07pm Sat 25 Sep 10

duke bar says...

Behave they bought a building and have decided to sell it.

Whats wrong with this.

Lots of us do this with our cars and houses every year.
Behave they bought a building and have decided to sell it. Whats wrong with this. Lots of us do this with our cars and houses every year. duke bar

10:24pm Sat 25 Sep 10

Davidoff says...

Think it all started with that bridge in London some foreigner bought and took brick for brick to their country then it was the original Blackpool Illuminations (oh, yes, even those weren't sacred) sold some time ago to go into some desert somewhere ... It can all be more or less traced backwards that brick by brick, mortar by mortar everything we had in this country is either hocked, rented, leased out to some other country ...

.

Will only be a matter of time before Big Ben, Stone Henge are bought and shipped off somewhere.
Think it all started with that bridge in London some foreigner bought and took brick for brick to their country then it was the original Blackpool Illuminations (oh, yes, even those weren't sacred) sold some time ago to go into some desert somewhere ... It can all be more or less traced backwards that brick by brick, mortar by mortar everything we had in this country is either hocked, rented, leased out to some other country ... . Will only be a matter of time before Big Ben, Stone Henge are bought and shipped off somewhere. Davidoff

11:13pm Sat 25 Sep 10

full moon says...

Maybe theres a positive side to this. From 5000 muslin places, only 58 could be filled. The days of slavish religeous fervour may have come to an end! Ban the burka, live as nature intended, not camouflaged!!
Maybe theres a positive side to this. From 5000 muslin places, only 58 could be filled. The days of slavish religeous fervour may have come to an end! Ban the burka, live as nature intended, not camouflaged!! full moon

11:14pm Sat 25 Sep 10

Rogi says...

Davidoff wrote:
Think it all started with that bridge in London some foreigner bought and took brick for brick to their country then it was the original Blackpool Illuminations (oh, yes, even those weren't sacred) sold some time ago to go into some desert somewhere ... It can all be more or less traced backwards that brick by brick, mortar by mortar everything we had in this country is either hocked, rented, leased out to some other country ...

.

Will only be a matter of time before Big Ben, Stone Henge are bought and shipped off somewhere.
No - Really - Someone stole the Blackpool illuminations?
[quote][p][bold]Davidoff[/bold] wrote: Think it all started with that bridge in London some foreigner bought and took brick for brick to their country then it was the original Blackpool Illuminations (oh, yes, even those weren't sacred) sold some time ago to go into some desert somewhere ... It can all be more or less traced backwards that brick by brick, mortar by mortar everything we had in this country is either hocked, rented, leased out to some other country ... . Will only be a matter of time before Big Ben, Stone Henge are bought and shipped off somewhere.[/p][/quote]No - Really - Someone stole the Blackpool illuminations? Rogi

10:36am Sun 26 Sep 10

billy32 says...

When the Islamic "CHARITY" sell the Brierfield Mill that they own, what will they do with the profit. I bet it won't go to the flood victims. It will probably go into a bank account for a "rainy day"............. Time will tell, or i may be wrong !!
When the Islamic "CHARITY" sell the Brierfield Mill that they own, what will they do with the profit. I bet it won't go to the flood victims. It will probably go into a bank account for a "rainy day"............. Time will tell, or i may be wrong !! billy32

10:51am Sun 26 Sep 10

Izanears says...

Mr Cookson said a deal would only be struck if an ‘appropriate’ price could be agreed and confirmed discussions were ongoing.

Love the word appropriate!!!!! If the council displays it usual business acumen, remember, it virtually gave away the land Lomeshaye Ind Estate is built on, then I'll bet a million pounds to a pennorth o' peanuts that this will be another 'deal' that will see Pendle taxpayers out of pocket yet again!.
Mr Cookson said a deal would only be struck if an ‘appropriate’ price could be agreed and confirmed discussions were ongoing. Love the word appropriate!!!!! If the council displays it usual business acumen, remember, it virtually gave away the land Lomeshaye Ind Estate is built on, then I'll bet a million pounds to a pennorth o' peanuts that this will be another 'deal' that will see Pendle taxpayers out of pocket yet again!. Izanears

3:11pm Sun 26 Sep 10

eddie the head says...

where are Pendle council suppoesed to find £1 million when the council budgets are about to be cut to the bone from central government. I think the money would be better spent of projects that are already running rather than this. If the islamic charity don't need it, and the council are the only buyers at the moment then the council should be able to pick the price and the time at their choosing. Unless of course there is soom sneaky stuff going on. If the charity gets a profit I know I'm right
where are Pendle council suppoesed to find £1 million when the council budgets are about to be cut to the bone from central government. I think the money would be better spent of projects that are already running rather than this. If the islamic charity don't need it, and the council are the only buyers at the moment then the council should be able to pick the price and the time at their choosing. Unless of course there is soom sneaky stuff going on. If the charity gets a profit I know I'm right eddie the head

5:06pm Sun 26 Sep 10

wrinkles says...

duke bar wrote:
Behave they bought a building and have decided to sell it.

Whats wrong with this.

Lots of us do this with our cars and houses every year.
There's nothing wrong with that if everything is done above board and not behind a tax free concession charity whose website gives the impression (but no costings) that its sole intention is to help alleviate tragedy in foreign lands using unpaid volunteers.
.
Contrast the website with the statement by the purchasers of the old building that it was their intention to have a fee based boarding school specifically to teach Muslim culture to girls.
[quote][p][bold]duke bar[/bold] wrote: Behave they bought a building and have decided to sell it. Whats wrong with this. Lots of us do this with our cars and houses every year.[/p][/quote]There's nothing wrong with that if everything is done above board and not behind a tax free concession charity whose website gives the impression (but no costings) that its sole intention is to help alleviate tragedy in foreign lands using unpaid volunteers. . Contrast the website with the statement by the purchasers of the old building that it was their intention to have a fee based boarding school specifically to teach Muslim culture to girls. wrinkles

8:15pm Sun 26 Sep 10

Kev says...

How much did they pat for it?
Why don't the Islamic Charity do the Charitable thing? i.e, sell the building back to a deprived community for the amount they paid for it.
It wouldn't be Islamic to make a profit on the generousity of another Community...... Would it..?
How much did they pat for it? Why don't the Islamic Charity do the Charitable thing? i.e, sell the building back to a deprived community for the amount they paid for it. It wouldn't be Islamic to make a profit on the generousity of another Community...... Would it..? Kev

9:43am Mon 27 Sep 10

publicperson says...

The naivety of some people is staggering.
This was alway's going to happen as the charity has previous form for it. The sums just didn't add up when they put forward all their grand (divisive)ideas, and the fact that Lloyds bankrolled them in the midst of a recession spelt disaster from the start.
Having spoken with a local resident, a major factor in the opposition was the fact that this landmark building could be left to rot away, in the same manner of many of Brierfield and Nelsons heritage properties.
Imagine if Pearl2 did not want to buy the Mill. Who else in the current climate would want it? It would be a derelict monster. Islamic Help continue to embarrass the muslim community with their actions.
The naivety of some people is staggering. This was alway's going to happen as the charity has previous form for it. The sums just didn't add up when they put forward all their grand (divisive)ideas, and the fact that Lloyds bankrolled them in the midst of a recession spelt disaster from the start. Having spoken with a local resident, a major factor in the opposition was the fact that this landmark building could be left to rot away, in the same manner of many of Brierfield and Nelsons heritage properties. Imagine if Pearl2 did not want to buy the Mill. Who else in the current climate would want it? It would be a derelict monster. Islamic Help continue to embarrass the muslim community with their actions. publicperson

6:59pm Mon 27 Sep 10

soup123 says...

I'd have thought they'd have made sure they had all their sums pretty bob on before spending so much money.
I'd have thought they'd have made sure they had all their sums pretty bob on before spending so much money. soup123

11:30pm Tue 28 Sep 10

FREDF2009 says...

Ah you mean PEARL2 which built the £6.5 million Ace Centre in Nelson which did not even have a car park to go with it so Mr Stephen Barnes was made to demolish the theatre in Nelson which The Theatre Trust said had architectural importance but because of the **** up made by PEARL2 building "a flagship building" without a car park which by the way had to be bailed out by the Pendle Taxpayer for the tune of £78k due to it operating at a loss. The game is nearly up for PEARL2, Mr Stephen Barnes and all the other shennanigans that are operating. Look at the record of this partnership which is very uncomfortable when you look at it in more detail:
1) A £6.3 million building with no car park and operating at a loss in its first year of £78k.
2) Approx. £1.2 million on pedestrianising Market Street for the umpteenth time creating a town centre which is completely dead.
3) The £5 million building, No. 1 Market Street which completely destroyed the hustle & bustle of the old indoor market that served Nelson for years.
4) The £2.3 million currently being spent on opening the town centre to traffic to encourage business to flourish when nearly all the shops in Nelson that used to deal in retail are boarded up!
5) £4.5 million spent on the new Bus Interchange
Now if I do my sums correctly that is £19.3 million being spent in Nelson Town Centre for improvements. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that Nelson has a failed town centre which is completely dead due to mistake after mistake being made by senior officers of the council and PEARL2.
So who is being naive now?
Ah you mean PEARL2 which built the £6.5 million Ace Centre in Nelson which did not even have a car park to go with it so Mr Stephen Barnes was made to demolish the theatre in Nelson which The Theatre Trust said had architectural importance but because of the **** up made by PEARL2 building "a flagship building" without a car park which by the way had to be bailed out by the Pendle Taxpayer for the tune of £78k due to it operating at a loss. The game is nearly up for PEARL2, Mr Stephen Barnes and all the other shennanigans that are operating. Look at the record of this partnership which is very uncomfortable when you look at it in more detail: 1) A £6.3 million building with no car park and operating at a loss in its first year of £78k. 2) Approx. £1.2 million on pedestrianising Market Street for the umpteenth time creating a town centre which is completely dead. 3) The £5 million building, No. 1 Market Street which completely destroyed the hustle & bustle of the old indoor market that served Nelson for years. 4) The £2.3 million currently being spent on opening the town centre to traffic to encourage business to flourish when nearly all the shops in Nelson that used to deal in retail are boarded up! 5) £4.5 million spent on the new Bus Interchange Now if I do my sums correctly that is £19.3 million being spent in Nelson Town Centre for improvements. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that Nelson has a failed town centre which is completely dead due to mistake after mistake being made by senior officers of the council and PEARL2. So who is being naive now? FREDF2009

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