Two protest groups butted-heads outside the construction site of a huge £2.5million mosque on Saturday. The project, being built on the edge of the picturesque Lake District, has sparked anger among residents who took to the streets in protest of the South Lakes Islamic Centre (SLIC). Police were called to the scene after demonstrators holding placards clashed.
One group held Union Jack flags with messages reading “No to the mosque” and “Not racist! Just patriotic!”. Furness Stand Up To Racism were present to counteract the group against the build, which included a local Labour MP who labelled the anti-mosque side as racist. MP for Barrow and Furness, Michelle 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 group were there to support the SLIC.
“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,” he told local reporters.
The South Lakes Islamic Centre is being built on Crooklands Brow. Residents have said the decision was forced through without proper consultation. Some say the design is out of keeping with the area, while others have raised concerns about parking and traffic.
One churchgoer told The Telegraph: “The bells are tradition. If they start calling from that new mosque, it would be unacceptable. I’m not racist, but everybody else round here feels the same.”
Another woman said: “There’s already nowhere to park. This will make it worse.”
Westmorland and Furness councillor Matt Brereton, Conservative deputy leader of the council, said: “There is a sizeable Islamic faith community in the wider Furness area. I don’t really see an issue with them having somewhere to celebrate their faith.”
