Visit from far-right group to Cumbria mosque site condemned
Britain First held a demonstration outside the Ulverston Road site
The visit of a far-right group to the construction site of an Islamic Centre in Dalton has been condemned with the Furness MP stating such groups are ‘not welcome’ in the area.
Political figures as well as an anti-racism organisation have spoken out after Britain First held a demonstration outside the construction site of South Lakes Islamic Centre off Ulverston Road.
Anti Racist Cumbria urged the local community to ‘stand against’ misinformation about the development and Muslims as a group.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “There is a lot of disinformation out there from the far-right about this development, and it is driven by an Islamophobic and racist agenda to create discord in our communities.
“They are calling it a ‘mega mosque’ when in reality it is planned to be a privately funded Islamic Community Centre with prayer rooms.”
This comes after Britain First, including co-leaders Paul Golding and Ashlea Simon, held a banner which read ‘no mosque here’ on a visit to the site in Dalton.
The organisation has also set up a petition calling on the former Cumbria County Council to revoke planning permission which has received over 70,000 signatures. The group say they want to ‘hand-deliver this petition to Cumbria County Council in Carlisle’.
Britain First co-leader Paul Golding said the group ‘attracted a lot of beeps’ from passing motorists and added there is ‘no Islamic population’ in the area.
MP for Barrow and Furness, Michelle Scrogham said: “Britain First, which emerged from the old British National Party, are not welcome in Barrow and Furness where, for generations, we are proud to have a community which supports one another.
“The aim of Britain First has always been to create division and turn communities against each other in pursuit of their extremist agenda which is completely at odds with the views and values of people locally.”
The South Lakes Islamic Centre charity believes the centre in Dalton will prove beneficial for local Muslim families and visiting tourists.
Planning approval was originally granted in December 2022 with the group previously stating the space would cater to the 40 to 50 practising Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital and their families.
It is also hoped to serve ‘professionals, business communities and other trade workers who will need basic prayer, burial, teaching and community facilities’.
"stir up tensions and create division"
Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group at Westmorland and Furness Council, councillor Matt Brereton said: “There is a sizeable Islamic faith community in the wider Furness area, and I don’t really see there should be an issue in terms of them having somewhere they can celebrate their faith.
“We don’t want to see groups including Britain First coming to stir up tensions and create division in the community.”
A spokesperson for South Lakes Islamic Centre said in a YouTube video posted on March 20: “We are at a critical time in the project timeline, and we need funds. This work shouldn’t stop, we have funding in place until April and we request your support.”
The original plans were met with 30 objections while comments online ‘demonising the Muslim community’ were condemned by local councillors.
Planning documents submitted with the initial proposal read: “The proposed South Lakes Islamic Centre has the aim of providing a facility that offers public prayer space for the Muslim Community in the local area and beyond.
“In addition, the facility is proposed to provide a public community space which is accessible to all and its location in such a sustainable location in close proximity to the local school, the established settlement of Dalton-in-Furness and local shops and services, it has the potential to be used by a wide range of community groups.”