Angry protesters have fumed that the edge of the picturesque Lake District is the “wrong place” for a new £2.5million mosque being built in their quaint English town. Furious demonstrations erupted on Saturday outside the new South Lakes Islamic Centre being built in Dalton-in-Furness, with objectors waving Union Flag placards bearing the words: “No to the mosque.”
Counter-protesters hit back by saying the opponents did “not speak for the majority of people in Dalton”, with Labour MP Michelle Scrogham labelling anti-mosque demonstrators as “racist”. Gary Peaker, owner of Dalton Motor Parts, told the Express that many felt the size and scale of the 1,000sq m holy building was not in keeping with the wider area. “My views aren’t of a racial nature,” he said.
“It’s about the size and scale of the thing. It’s that Dalton is not the right place.
“It is a tiny proportion of people who will use it. It’s not in keeping with Dalton. It’s an old town, and it’s the first thing you’re going to see going into Dalton now.
“Much of Dalton is a conservation area. I can’t have anything other than slate on my roof.
“How can they suddenly build that monstrosity when we’re governed by building regulations?
“I just feel sorry for the town. It’s always been a quiet little town.”
However, Matt Brereton, Conservative deputy leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, has defended the plan.
“There is a sizeable Islamic faith community in the wider Furness area,” he said. “I don’t really see an issue with them having somewhere to celebrate their faith.”
When she joined the counter-protesters on Saturday, Ms Scrogham said: “I am here because there’s absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria.
“The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don’t represent the people of this area. The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming.”
Paul Jenkins, who organised the counter-protest, said: “The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness.
“The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multifaith community and defend the right of the Islamic centre to be here.”
Planning permission for the project was granted in 2022 despite 30 formal objections, but many residents claimed they were not aware of the plans until more recently. The plans were showcased at an exhibition in nearby Barrow-in-Furness in 2021.
During the application process, planners stressed that the building had been designed to match similar features seen on other buildings in Dalton, such as arched windows.
They said it would serve a “dual function as a place of worship and a community outreach facility” to Muslim residents and visitors, including an estimated 40-50 doctors working at Furness General Hospital.
The building will consist of a public space on the ground floor, with a prayer space for services on the first floor, and private space and offices on the second floor. There will be a communal garden on the roof “for relaxation and reflection”.
Supporters also highlighted that there is no mosque within a 50-mile radius.