WITH his remarks in "U-turn will cause chaos" (Letters, December 21) Councillor Parvaiz Awan attempted to create a smokescreen in setting out his objections to a planning application for a mosque in the Bastwell area of Blackburn.

The truth is that the Conservatives appear to advocate that we should pick and choose what religious groups we will allow to build places of worship instead of having one criteria for all.

It may come as a surprise to some Tories that the Labour Council believes all religious groups should be treated equally.

That policy was reiterated in the report to the planning committee. We will, therefore, continue to ensure that the borough's planning policies do not and will not support any forms of religious bigotry.

COUN FRANK CONNOR (chairman, planning sub-committee, Blackburn with Darwen Council), Duxbury Street, Darwen.

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