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Mosque future to be decided


by Faiza Afzaal


COUNCILLORS, in the Ribble Valley will decide on Tuesday whether or not to sell land to


local Muslims for a mosque. A controversial bid by members of


the Medina Islamic Education Cen­ tre to purchase par t of a former. council depot in Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe, will, for the second time in two months, go before Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Policy and Finance Committee. However, requests from a local


carpenter and a CCTV company to purchase parts of the site, could eas­ ily jeopardise the plans, it has been revealed. One of the proposals has been sub­


mitted by carpenter Mr Leon Green­ wood, whose house is attached to the Kirkmoor site. He wishes to expand his business ■


and has asked the council to sell him the land. The second bid is from CCTV


company Maximum Protection Ser­ vices Ltd, who want to buy all or half of the land - subject to neces­ sary planning permission. On Tuesday evening, councillors


will decide on a range of options, including developing the site for sheltered bungalows and/or a


I'VPAIVil ...... ..v'v mosque, and/or a carpentry busi­


ness. ■ Any decision on the sale of land


would be conditional on planning permission being obtained. “We are not expecting any favours


from the council, but neither do we expect to be treated any different to another fa ith ,” said Mr Sheraz Arshad, spokesman for the Islamic centre in Holden Street. “There were a lot of unnecessary


issues raised a t the last meeting, which were not even related to the application.” Earlier this year, angry residents


and supporters of the BNP attend­ ed a meeting at the council chamber to protest a t plans for the mosque at the Kirkmoor Road site. They gave a variety of reasons,


which included the development leading to traffic congestion and pos­ sible depreciation of the value of neighbouring properties. Some claimed a mosque may also


lead to increased vandalism, social unrest and could just be an excuse to invite more Muslims from out of the Ribble Valley to come to worship in Clitheroe, which could increase racial tension. During the evening meeting, com­


mittee chairman Coun. Chris Holtom threatened to halt proceed­ ings several times as a packed public


gallery repeatedly interrupted coun­


cillors. At that time, councillors voted to


defer the decision on the land sale until they had more information on the financial implications, suitabili­ ty of the site for development and the possible social impact on resi­ dents. The whole site has subsequently


been valued a t £400,000 and the part of it needed for the mosque at £50,000. In a detailed report, the District


Valuer, stated: “I t is my view that the value of the properties around Kirkmoor Road will not depreciate as a result of a mosque being built - although the development may well cause noise nuisance.” Speaking earlier this week, chief executive for the council, Mr David


. Morris, said: “This is a very complex situation and it is entirely up to the committee members to decide. “A number of requests from differ­


ent organisations will be discussed during the evening. “I am expecting a good debate,


but hope there is a resolution to a topic that has been dragging on for so long.” The meeting is scheduled to start


at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the borough council’s chamber in Church Street, Clitheroe.


THE hills were alive with the sound of walking boots as 150 hikers set out on the Heart of the Kingdom Challenge on Sunday. Starting at Dunsop Bridge, they


made their way across open moorland to the Whitendale Hanging Stones, near to the exact Centre of Great Britain, exploring territory opened up


■'S'


A hearty walk for charity


by the Government’s recent right to roam legislation. The event, in aid of the British Heart Foundation, was sup­ ported by United Utilities and the Duchy of Lancaster, with the Rowland Pennine Mountain Rescue team pro­ viding safety support. Pictured are some of those who took part. (S071104/la)


A very happy birthday, Mrs Brown!


A WOMAN believed to be Ribble Val­ ley’s oldest resident has celebrated her 104th birthday. Mrs Emma Brown, who lives with her


daughter, Doris, in Whalley, celebrated her birthday on November 4th. Remarkably fit and active, Mrs Brown


marked the momentous day with an evening meal a t the Higher Buck, in


Waddington, accompanied by her daugh­ ter. On Sunday she was in the party mood again, when around 20 faniily members gathered for a special celebration at the Calf’s Head, at Worston. Mrs Brown and her late husband,


Harry, raised three children and her fam­ ily now includes six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.


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