CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a Muslim prayer room in Blackburn which
sparked hundreds of objections and a council standards inquiry have been
put back to square one.
Planning permission to transform the car park of the former Beardwood
Garden Centre into an Islamic religious centre granted last year has now
been declared invalid.
This means that supporters will have to start the whole process of applying for borough council approval again.
Last year the plans were recommended for refusal by officers, but
councillors voted 10 to five to grant permission creating a storm of
complaints.
Blackburn with Darwen Council Standards Committee launched an
investigation into the handling of the application. That inquiry has yet
to report. Last night’s planning and highways committee will be told
that because of irregularities over the ownership of land needed for the
prayer room, the decision has no legal force.
A report said: “Members of the committee are advised that the planning
application has been made invalid and has been withdrawn.”
Tory spokesman Alan Cottam welcomed the news: “I still think this prayer room would be in the wrong place.”
link
No comments:
Post a Comment