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Claims public not consulted properly over Accrington mosque plan (From Blackburn Citizen)
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Claims public not consulted properly over Accrington mosque plan
4:19pm Friday 26th June 2009
CLAIMS the public were not properly consulted on Accrington’s landmark mosque plans led a bid to overturn a council decision.
Borough councillor Nick Collingridge led the bid to overturn Hyndburn’s initial support of West Accrington regeneration plans, which include an ‘iconic mosque’ at Steiner Street for 2,500 worshippers.
However the Overview and Scrutiny Committee yesterday (fri) disagreed, deciding to allow the decision of Hyndburn’s cabinet to stand.
At the cabinet meeting two weeks ago, residents had objected to the mosque over fears of increased traffic and parking problems.
However the cabinet decided these issues could only be dealt with by a planning committee, once official plans are submitted.
Defending the cabinet’s actions to scrutiny councillors, leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said: “I’m not sure what else cabinet could have done.
“Nobody is objecting to it because it’s a mosque and traffic and amenity concerns have to be considered through the proper channels.
“It is only a project idea at this stage. There is no planning application and anybody else is free to sumit a planning application for other projects. I am baffled as to why the yolk is being over egged.”
He added that every West Accrington business and resident should receive a letter at the planning stage.
The meeting then heard a public meeting to discuss the plans had been arranged by West Accrington Residents Association.
Coun Nick Collingridge said: “These extra meetings and consultations have only come to light after I made this call-in. The original consultation before the cabinet meeting was also highly flawed.
It is is a very important gateway proposal and all residents should have a say, not just West Accrington.”
Councillors voted to allow the original decision to stand instead of referring the issue back to cabinet.
Other than the mosque, regeneration plans include a new public space and ‘pocket garden’ in the West Accrington area, which enjoy general support.
Chairman of the West Accrington Resident’s Committee Tariq Ali said he welcomed all members of the public to a meeting to discuss mosque plans.
He said: “There are lots of people from other areas who want to have their say. Everyone is welcome.”
The meeting takes place at the Stables in Russia Steet at 7.30pm on Thursday, July 9.
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Your Say YourCitizen
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
7:50pm Fri 26 Jun 09
L of the CONTROLLERS be they FAT or otherwise ALL usually have SELF INTEREST. Give US the Public Indigenous or ethnic, the chance to DECIDE FOR ORSELVES Combinedly and at least in our own towns if not Countries.LET US EACH AND EVERY ONE BOTH ANGLO AND ETHNIC GET MORE CONTROL ABOVE THE "CONTROLLERS" Personally I am Sick toi the teeth of BNP types and also "God Is Great" Chanters.
Using "God is great " as a WAR CRY!
Come the Revolution, Gt. Harwood says...
8:57pm Fri 26 Jun 09
1. West Accrington is supposed to be the poorest area in terms of receiving most taxpayer's money in terms of regeneration grants etc..
2. Suddenly, the people of the area have enough money to finance & build a giant mosque.
3. There are nine mosques already registered in Hyndburn alone.
4. As eruditely pointed out by MEBILL & LITM above, the planners & councillors of Hyndburn, through vested interests, cannot be relied on to carry out the wishes of the Accrington people.
5. The obvious answer is a referendum for the people of Accrington (with no postal voting). As the populace of West Accrington seem to be awash with money, they can pay for it.
snitch, burnley says...
2:03am Sat 27 Jun 09
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
8:34am Sat 27 Jun 09
Dave, instead of just easily making a generalising comment then why not give voice to your own thoughts. YES, there is Racism about, So DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! There is racism inherent in ALL people on Earth, It is the Human condition.If you tell me that YOU do not have a general dislike of some country or its people THEN YOU WILL BE BEING DISHONEST. It is not that we should just pass comment but should RECOGNISE BOTH SIDES AS HAVING RACIST ELEMENTS, and not just sitting back and saying "I`m not racist" OF COURSE YOU ARE...WE ALL ARE!
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
11:39am Sat 27 Jun 09
I Personally know Jack Straw to be a HONEST and Hard-Working MP. And Jack has helped the asian Community a great deal (And no complaint from me) but even he is getting a bit jaded with some Ethnics (From what I can see) and this Brings me to HISTORY. An American Rabbi said ,in very recent years,at a Jewis meeting " Who do you think was responsible for the Holocaust ?" and SILENCE amongst audience. He then said (Pointing at individuals in turn) " YOU ARE and YOU ARE and YOU ARE!"
What he meant was that the Jewish community had not integrated, but had simply only been concerned with PERSONAL GAIN. This had given the National Socialists all the amunition that they needed. and DECENT German people were `turned`.
SO, Self interested groups pushing their DIFFERENT ways of life to the Forefront BE WARNED! I personally want to live in a free Democratic Society, especially for youngsters of my own Race and for Ethnic Youngsters. BE WARNED.....ALL OF YOU!
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
12:44pm Sat 27 Jun 09
Accyprincess, Accrington says...
1:02pm Sat 27 Jun 09
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
1:51pm Sat 27 Jun 09
Akki, Accy says...
2:01pm Sat 27 Jun 09
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
6:08pm Sat 27 Jun 09
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
11:02am Sun 28 Jun 09
Humans are a strange bunch, If ANYBODY saw a Family in any kind of peril then ANYBODY would help that Family. (ie. Any normal Human Being would help) All of the issues discussed are personal views arising from anger by EACH Following against the OTHER. NO ONE ALIEN OR OTHERWISE DIFFERENT MINORITY GROUP COULD POSSIBLY TAKE OVER THIS COUNTRY! We, like the Dutch or the French or other Countries like them would allow this. I have lived through the tail end of WW2 and we defeated the GREATEST war machine ever seen on Earth, Namely the WHEREMACHT.Do you any of you really beleive that the ingrained social Heirarchical system in this country would let this happen? I THINK NOT! Democracy once again has been proven to exist beyond all shadow of a doubt THESE LAST FEW MONTHS! Look at the MP`s having to answer for what they are doing. I for one am not in the least afraid of ANY following not usual to this country that may be thought of as TAKING OVER. I am tolerant of any Religion or Race, But YES I personally have my own anger at the activities of MANY. But let`s keep it all in perspective and be vigilant but not go over the top.
MEBILL, Blackburn says...
1:17pm Sun 28 Jun 09
COUN BRITCLIFFE
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Lifeinthemix, Accrington says...
7:31pm Fri 26 Jun 09
More importantly in this situation, because unknown to many the Muslims have not not been consulted either!
I think the Muslims should say no to this mosque unless they want the BNP at the door.
Britcliffe pushing to get get the vote of the Muslims I think to get him in the position of MP.
This is the most insane move I have seen for a long time in Accrington, and there has been many.
How can we stop this when we have private corporate interests deciding Hyndburn Policy. Globe Enterprises which controls Hyndburn, is made up :
Barnfield Construction, Stuart Nevison, and Legal and democratic Services at Scaitcliffe House.
It is these interests pushing this mosque, not for the Muslims, but to give reason for Hyndburn to vote BNP.